Southern Alumni June 2013

Inside: Southern Exposure, Salukis Hiring Salukis, Class Notes, and more…Inside: Southern Exposure, Salukis Hiring Salukis, Class Notes, and more…

Dear Graduate,It is our pleasure to send this complimentary issue of South-

ern Alumni to all recent graduates of the University. Through

the pages of this magazine, we hope the stories will help keep

you connected to SIU Carbondale.

As an SIU alumnus, you play an important role in the contin-

ued growth and success of the University. Your SIU Alumni As-

sociation will keep you connected with your college friends

through alumni chapter and club activities, the newly re-

designed www.siualumni.com, and with our various publica-

tions.

If you are already a member of the SIU Alumni Association,

you can look forward to receiving four copies of Southern

Alumni each year, and enjoy access to other alumni who net-

work through our online community. If you are not yet a

member, check out the special recent grad rates that we offer.

Should you have any questions about membership, please

visit our website or call our office at 618-453-2408. Your sup-

port of our University’s future is crucial, and we will keep you

connected to Southern every step of the way as you start this

new path in your life.

Congratulations!

Michelle Suarez ’85, M.S. Ed. ’04

Executive Director

SIU Alumni Association

Your Connection To SIU Is Now New And Improved!

www.siualumni.com

Being a first generation college student is not easy. “There are many things you must adjust to at a fast pace that may be overwhelming. The First Scholars Program here at SIU gave

me two things that I needed to get through college: (1) motivation to stay strong, and, (2) confidence that I can do this. Through

activities and workshops organized by the First Scholars Program, I acquired essential knowledge necessary to select the right

career path for myself. The First Scholars Program also provided me with resources and mentors to help me along the way. I am

proud I chose the college life. And I now love my home away from home!”

Jazmine is one example of how you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people who are beginning to tap into

their true potential. Through programs such as First Scholars, you are not only playing a part in their education, but you are also

enhancing their quality of life.

If you would like to make a difference in the life of a young student like Jazmine, please visit: https://www.siuf.org/priorities/ and

click on the “Campus Wide” option. You can select “First Scholars Fund” to make a gift. Or call (618) 453-4900.

“The First Scholars

Program at SIU provides

me with two things that

I need to get through

college: (1) motivation

to stay strong, and,

(2) confidence that I

can do this.”

Jazmine Garcia

Sophomore, Zoology

To make a gift, visit siuf.org/priorities or call 618.453.4900

Find us on Facebook.com/siufoundation.

CongratulationsGraduates!More than 3,600 candidates

for graduation enjoyed the fes-

tivities during May 11, 2013

graduation ceremonies. The

speaker at the events was

Frank Abagnale (lower right),

whose life story provided the

inspiration for the feature film

“Catch Me If You Can.” The in-

augural “Forever SIU: A Com-

mencement Celebration” was

held the night before to honor

the members of the Class of

2013 and their families.

Cover photos by Steve Buhman

No Sister ActWhen Lisa Kandziorski was a little girl, shedreamed of the day she could leave homeand go away to college. Being in a wheel-chair because of Cerebral Palsy neverdeterred her from reaching that goal. Nowrooming at Southern with her younger sis-ter, Lisa, the sisters have formed a closerbond than they ever could have imagined.

On The Job TrainingThe Extern Program is a time-honored traditionat SIU, pairing students and businesses in a

real job environment each spring. Junior andsenior students gain invaluable experience by spending

a week over spring break with a sponsor that is appropriate tothe student’s field of study. The result is real world experience –and often a job after they earn their degree.

Moonbuggy SalukisIn competition involving more than 90 high school and college teams from 23 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, India, Germany, Mexico, and Russia in the 20thNASA Great Moonbuggy Race at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Salukis tookcenter stage. The SIU team wonthe prestigious Neil ArmstrongBest Design Award, presentedfor solving engineering prob-lems associated with lunartravel.

C O N T E N T SDEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

STAFFEditorGene Green ’75

Staff WriterGordon Pruett ’79

Art DirectorTodd Freeman ’89 The Noteworthy Group, Inc.Carbondale, Illinois

Graphic DesignerGreg Baker

PhotographyRyan Schmidt ’13Athletic Media ServicesDaily EgyptianSouthern IllinoisanU.S. ArmyUniversity Communications

ContributorsKathy Dillard ’90Joy Christensen ’13Andrea HahnMaj. Brooks LittleHannah McArthy ’13Christi MathisAnn Piasecki ’79Pete Rosenbery ’82Zachary Sapienza ’99, M.S. ’05Greg Scott ’91, M.S. ’99Lee Seward ’69Tina ShingletonAngela Spicer ‘09Laura Taylor ’05, M.A. ’07Tom WeberTom WoolfZach Zeibert ’13Athletic Media ServicesSIU FoundationSouthern IllinoisanUniversity Communications

Volume 75, No. 2June 2013

Southern Alumni (ISSN 1526-4238) ispublished quarterly by the SIU AlumniAssociation, Colyer Hall, SIU,Carbondale, IL 62901 for members ofthe SIU Alumni Association.

Association membership dues, $40 annu-ally, include a magazine subscription.Periodicals postage paid at Carbondale,Ill., and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Southern Alumni, SIU AlumniAssociation, Colyer Hall, 1235 DouglasDr., Mail Code 6809, Southern IllinoisUniversity, Carbondale, IL 62901.

ON THE COVER

Graduation ceremonies in Maymade for a festive atmosphere at SIU, as thousands of Salukis celebrated their achievementsand began their next step in theworld.

Enjoy Your Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

SIU Alumni Apparel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Thanks For Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chancellor’s Greeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Membership Advantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Southern Exposure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Alumni Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Debate Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Leap Of Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Salukis Hiring Salukis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Capitol One Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Saluki Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Track Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Off And Running . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Alumni Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Service Redeems Graduate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Boeing Competition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Association News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Southern Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Step Back In Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

12

32

18

by Gene Green

Irecently received an email from an alumnus regard-ing a story and online video about two sisters who

are roommates at SIU. Nothing so unusual there – atleast I thought at the time. When I looked into the situ-ation a little deeper, however, I found something spe-cial that I’m proud to share with you in this issue.

Like many young people, Lisa and Amy Kandziorskiare at the stage of their lives where gaining more inde-pendence is quite important. Lisa, 23, is away from homefor the first time in her life, traversing SIU’s large campusin a wheelchair due to complications from CerebralPalsy. Amy, 19, arrived in Carbondale at the same time to

get an education and lend some support, although being her sister’s roommate wasnot initially the plan.

The first few months in schoolproduced trials, tribulations, and tri-umphs for the siblings. Lisa did thingsshe had previously only imagined.“Many people with Cerebral Palsy arenot able to go to college,” she says.“It’s a big deal for me to be here, and Iam determined to grab the opportu-nity, take advantage of everythingschool has to offer, and not let any-thing – or anyone – stop me.”

Lisa soon found profound innerstrength, becoming more independenteach day. Watching this transforma-tion, Amy was overwhelmed andinspired by “the toughest person Iknow.” Although they had always beenclose growing up, she realized thatrooming with her older sister was taking the relationship to another level.

To honor Lisa, Amy made a touching video for her as an early Christmas present. Ihope you will take a moment to watch it atwww.siualumn.com/sisters, and then readthe feature story on page 12 of this edition.

I interview many interesting people eachyear, and meeting these two young ladieswas a real highlight. “Watching Lisa thrivethe past year has motivated me so much,”Amy told me. “She never complains aboutanything – she tackles what she has to doand becomes a bit more fearless each day.”

Coming to SIU was a huge step for Lisa,who informed her parents last year that itwas time for her to leave home. “I knew itwas a big step for me, and it was certainlyhard for them, as they had done almosteverything for me over the years,” she notes.“Even though I was a bit scared, I felt if I did-n’t do it then, that I probably never would.”

Now confident and relaxed on the SIUcampus and in the community, Lisa beams as she describes how she has grown dur-ing her first year at Southern. A photo on her Facebook page serves as a reminder ofher personal progression: “Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try.”

This issue of the magazine is filled with stories of student success, graduation cel-ebration, and young people doing great things. The Kandziorski sisters will somedaybe on stage themselves with diplomas in hand, and until then I know they will inspiremany fellow Salukis along the way.

One year down ladies! We look forward to seeing you back on campus in August. �

Enjoy Your Magazine

(618) 453-2408 Fax: (618) 453-2586www.siualumni.com

Board of Directors President

Barry Smith ’80, Paducah, Ky.

Past-President

Ray Serati ’59, Springfield, Ill.

President-Elect

Michael Kasser ’78, Carbondale, Ill.

Vice Presidents

Steve Falat ’87, Murphysboro, Ill.

Howard Spiegel ’75, Buffalo Grove, Ill.

Treasurer

Randy Ragan ’67, M.S. ’68, Springfield, Ill.

Executive Committee At-Large

Jim Hayes ’62, Harrisburg, Ill.

Dede Ittner ’61, Carbondale, Ill.

Lowell Keel ’66, Tullahoma, Tenn.

Executive Director


Members

Len Baldyga ’59, Arlington, Va.

Barb Brown ’76, M.A. ’77, Ph.D. ’85, Chester, Ill.

Steve Brown ’71, Washington, Ill.

Treg Brown, M.D., ’88, Carbondale, Ill.

Winston Calvert ’02, St. Louis, Mo.

Rita Cheng, SIU Carbondale Chancellor

Greg Cook, SIU Foundation

Harry Fanning ’83, Wright City, Mo.

Larry Fischer ’68, Quincy, Ill.

Brittany Greathouse ’13, student representative

Gary Heflin ’89, Chicago, Ill.

Brenda Hill ’83, Brookport, Ill.

Mark Hinrichs ’81, Board of Trustees

Dennis Johnson ’74, Murphysboro, Ill.

Jeffrey Kutterer ’86, Saint Peters, Mo.

Hazel Loucks ’66, Edwardsville, Ill.

Andrea McNeill ’88, J.D. ’92, Johnston City, Ill.

Larry Mieldezis ’86, Flowery Branch, Ga.

Charles Neal, M.D. ’87, Ewing, Ill.

Allison Niendiek ’08, West Des Moines, Iowa

Glenn Poshard ’70, M.S. ’75, Ph.D. ’84, SIU President

Sandra Smith ’72, Chicago, Ill.

Laura Soucy ’87, Grayslake, Ill.

Bill Szelag ’73, M.S. ’74, Bastrop, Tex.

Ravi Tammana M.S. ’89, Ph.D. ’94

Susanne Taylor ’94, Charlotte, N.C.

Blaine Tisdale ’13, student representative

Ben Weinberger ’01, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Rick Wysocki ’83, ’85, Orland Park, Ill.

Kaley Wind ’13, student representative

Southern Alumni2

Amy (left) and Lisa Kandziorski haveenjoyed their first year at SIU.

Southern Alumni4

Thanks For Writing

Jackson Selected AGood Book Subject

Ienjoyed your recent article inSouthern Alumni on John Jackson’s

book on the late Senator Paul Simon.Jackson selected a good man to research,resurrect, and tell the world about. In

1950’s, I had the pleasure of taking a col-lege course with Simon in Troy, Ill.

There may have been a few, but hewas certainly one individual who washonest and clean during his entire politi-cal career. I wish Jackson much successin the keeping Simon’s reputation andwisdom alive.Dale Best ’69Virginia Beach, Va.

Schwartz’ DaughterAppreciatesInternational Story

Iwant to thank the SIU AlumniAssociation for its recent article about

international students at the University,and for alumnus John Ziegler whowrote a letter to the editor to add recog-nition of my father, Willis Swartz, andFrank Klingberg.

When Dad first became chairman ofthe SIU Graduate Studies Committee, heassumed responsibility for all the interna-tional students. Many of these were grad-uate students and/or Rotary Scholars. Hewas also an active Rotarian, and becamedistrict governor. My sister, Cynthia ’56literally grew up with these students, andcame to know most of them quite well.

They often rehearsed in ourhome for the many speechesand performances they provid-ed to area organizations. Ourkitchen and dining room werealways open to help alleviatebouts of homesickness, strug-gles with English, or just tooffer friendly visits!

The last few years of his life,Dad served as SIU Dean ofInternational Students. Creditshould also be given to DavidKenney, who was his assistantdean of the graduate school,and to Mary Wakeland, hisassistant in the Office ofInternational Students.Barbara Swartz DickermanEX ’51Downers Grove, Ill.

Friend Of Angeli’sSends Thanks

In a recent issue of Southern Alumni,Primo Angeli ’57, M.S. ’59 was featured.He was a good friend of mine during ourSIU days, and it was good to see that this

talented illustrator is still doing well inhis profession.

Primo and his wife, Bernadine, sentme a book containing his work during thetime they lived in Spoleto, Italy, and I amenjoying it and thank him for sending. Iwish my fellow alumnus and friend well.Bobbie Jones Burns ’59Humble, Texas

Your SIU Alumni Association is always eager to hearyour opinions of Southern Alumni. As with all alumni

magazines, we can only improve if we are being respon-sive to you, our readers. Therefore, we encourage you totake some time after you’ve read this issue of SouthernAlumni to let us know what you’re thinking. Please mailyour letters to:

Southern AlumniColyer Hall1235 Douglas DriveMailcode 6809Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale, Ill. 62901You can email your letters to [email protected]. Letters

are sometimes edited for length and style. We also invite you to send items and photographs of

interest for the class notes section as well as submis-sions for Southern Memories. You can mail this informa-tion or send it by email to the above addresses.

We are looking forward to hearing from you! Thankyou for your con tinued support of the SIU AlumniAssociation.

Dear Readers…

The late Senator Paul Simon.

Angeli shown at the SIU Museum’s 2012 exhibit of his work, titled ‘Primo Angeli: ARetrospective of Posters, Design and Brand Identity.’

Dear Fellow Salukis:Commencement ceremonies in May brought one journey to a close and marked the beginning of new ones formore than 3,600 students who earned undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. In the spirit of “oncea Saluki, always a Saluki,” we are pleased to welcome these newest members of the alumni family.

The spring semester was full of accomplishments, including very positive national exposure for students andfaculty. I want to share some highlights with you:

• For the third year in a row, the Flying Salukis are among the top three collegiate precision flight teams in thenation. The team finished third at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association championships, and for a secondstraight year, Courtney Copping earned top-scoring female competitor honors.

• The Debate Team earned two national championships in the space of one week, making SIU one of only sixuniversities ever to win both national titles in a single year. At the National Parliamentary Tournament ofExcellence, the most prestigious collegiate debate tournament in the country, a coaches’ poll named SIU sopho-more Josh Rivera as the top overall debater.

• For the sixth time in the program’s 14-year history, “alt.news 26:46” is the top college television news magazine program in the nation. The student-produced program won the College Television Award during the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation’s 34th annual College TelevisionAwards ceremony in Los Angeles.

• A recent story on NPR about aquaculture’s potential for raising shrimp featured Assistant Professor Jesse Trushenski with the Center for Fisheries,Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences. In addition, the Center has drawn the attention of the American Fisheries Society, which is the oldest and largestprofessional society representing fisheries scientists. Two graduate students, Carlin Fenn and Lucas Nelson, are featured on the cover of the May issueof the Society’s magazine, Fisheries. This issue includes an article by Associate Professor Brian Small and graduate student Elliott Kittel on theCenter’s sturgeon research.

• The Chicago Tribune carried a story on the new documentary, “Never the Same,” by Jan Thompson, associate professor in the Department of Radio,Television, and Digital Media. The documentary, which had its world premiere in Chicago in April, continues Jan’s efforts to tell the stories of WorldWar II veterans who were prisoners of war in the Philippines, which included her father.

• The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2013 Edition includes SIU Carbondale. The book recognizes colleges and universities thatdemonstrate “a strong commitment to the environment and to sustainability.” This is the University’s second appearance in the green colleges guide.

• Our distance education programs continue to grow in popularity. A recent report from the Illinois Board of Higher Education placed SIUCarbondale second in the state for the number of online enrollments. During the fall 2011 semester, we offered 79 online courses. This spring, thatnumber grew to 154 courses. Course enrollments have nearly tripled during that time period, from 991 in fall 2011 to 2,978 this spring.

• The law school has moved up to the top tier of law programs in the country in U.S. News and World Report rankings. Strong graduate employment statisticsand a revised methodology by the publication enabled the law school to jump from the unranked tier into the top tier of the nation’s legal education programs.

• Our exciting new publication, “Know,” highlights some of the amazing research from across campus and the unique contributions of our faculty and staff. Itis available on my website (chancellor.siu.edu/reports/research.html), and we anticipate publishing future collections featuring more great accomplishments.

•We celebrated the launch of “Pathways to Excellence: A Strategic Plan”, which is available on my website (chancellor.siu.edu/strategic-planning/index.html). The plan is the result of two years of campus-wide effort by steering and at-large committees, which included representativesof faculty, staff, students, the SIU Alumni Association, the SIU Foundation, and the community. We are now developing metrics and timelines forimplementation. The plan received a very favorable review from a team from the Higher Learning Commission, our accrediting agency, which visitedthe campus in April. In particular, the team lauded the transformative changes that have been taking place since their visit in 2010.

It may be summer, but we are very busy on the campus. Along with the thousands of students who are taking classes, many campus improvementsare under way, including in almost every academic building. When the renovations are complete, 91 percent of general classrooms will featureenhanced technology.

The impressive Student Services Building near the Student Center remains on schedule for opening in time for the fall semester. Other key projectsinclude Pulliam Hall, Lincoln Drive, Woody Hall, and the sixth and seventh floors of Morris Library.

I hope you are finding time this summer to relax with family and friends, and that you are planning to visit the campus soon. Thank you for yoursupport of our students and our University.

Sincerely,

Rita ChengChancellor

A Greeting From The Chancellor

02/01/2013 to 05/17/2013

Richard Apple

Susan Atkisson

Ron and Sharon Benton

Laura Bishop

Christopher Blechle

William Boyd

John Cavaletto

Frederick Chandler

Donald and Connie Darnell

Kay Doan

Daniel and Miriam Douthett

Wesley and Sara Durbin

Mary Fischer

Charles and J. Susan Hamilton

Debra Kaesberg

Daniel Lewis

Gloria McCray

Jonathan Nolan

Kevin O’Leary

Michael Pavelonis

Arthur Peterson

Elizabeth Pierce

Kenneth and Sheri Rochman

Calvin Scott

Allan and Kelly Shotts

Terry Simpson

Leman Smith

Cory and Katherine Spengler

John and Fran Stelzriede

Scott and Rebecca Stokes

Elizabeth Walker-Smith

Betty Wilson

Laura Zaremba

Drury HotelsThe Drury family has provided travelers like you with

squeaky clean rooms, friendly service, and good value formore than 30 years. Family ownership makes Drury Hotelsdistinctly different and assures you of quality and consisten-cy every time you stay.

Members of the SIU Alumni Association receive a $10discount off room rates, and the third and fourth personstays for free! For more information, visit:siualumni.com/advantages.

University BookstoreUniversity Bookstore is the official campus bookstore of

Southern Illinois University and is located in the SIU StudentCenter. Being a member of the SIU Alumni Association givesyou a 20% discount off of all apparel! Not local? You mayplace an order online and enter your name and member-ship ID in the notes section to receive this discount. Visitsiualumni.com/advantages for more information!

Southern Alumni8

Southern Exposure

Commencement weekend in May at Southern IllinoisUniversity Carbondale featured new and traditional cele-

brations.New this year was the Friday night event, “Forever SIU: A

Commencement Celebration.” The festive event for members ofthe Class of 2013 and their families was held in the SIU Arenaparking lot. Chancellor Rita Cheng kicked off the celebration,which included the Chicago-based cover band Mike and Joe,refreshments, and items for purchase from local vendors.

SIU Carbondale’s 137th commencement ceremony on May11 honored more than 3,600 candidates for undergraduate,graduate and professional degrees who crossed the stage dur-ing three ceremonies.

Frank Abagnale Jr., a security and fraud expert whose life is thefocus of a best-selling book and the 2002 film, “Catch Me If YouCan,” was the keynote speaker for each of the three commence-ment ceremonies. First known as one of the world’s most famous

confidence men, Abagnale has been associated with the FBI formore than 35 years and advises and consults financial institutions,corporations and government agencies around the world.

The University honored four alumni during commencementfor their service, commitment, and humanitarian efforts.

Pamela ’67 and Philip Pfeffer ’65, M.A. ’66 of Nashville,Tenn., each received Distinguished Service Awards, and Dr.Robert Murphy ’74, the founding director of the Center forGlobal Health, received an honorary Doctor of Humanitiesdegree. Ella Phillips Lacey ’64, M.S. ’72, Ph. D. ’79 received aDistinguished Service Award.

For the second consecutive year, the University introduced atime-honored symbol that adds to the dignity of the ceremony.At commencement in 2012, a bound edition of the UniversityCharter was displayed on the stage for the first time. This year, aceremonial mace was part of each ceremony. The mace is a sym-bol of authority and signifies the entrance of the chancellor.

Om Prakash AgrawalM.A. ’90, professor ofmechanical engineeringand energy processes andrecipient of the 2013Scholar Excellence Award,carried the mace as com-mencement grand marshal– a formal recognition ofthe power and legitimacyof scholarship andresearch at the University.

Cheng commissionedRick Smith M.F.A. ’92, pro-fessor of blacksmithing,and professor emeritus sil-versmith RichardMawdsley, with creatingthe mace. Smith relied onimages of the Old Maincampus building,destroyed by fire in 1969,as the inspiration for hisdesign. The mace serves asa reminder, amid the com-mencement celebration, ofthe formality and dignityof the occasion. �

New Events, Traditions Highlight Commencement

Three Salukis owned by Jim and Vicki Blair of Energy, Ill., were a big draw in front of the SIU AlumniAssociation booth at the “Forever SIU” event. The trio of Salukis made for great photo opportunitiesfor SIU graduates and their families.

Southern Alumni 9

Southern Exposure

Exhibits Highlight University History, Artwork

Moline NamedAssociate ViceChancellor

Awoman known as an accomplishedfundraising strategist has joined the

development and alumni relations team atSouthern Illinois University Carbondale.Patricia Moline began her tenure as asso-ciate vice chancellor for development andalumni relations on April 29.

Previously, Molinewas at Oklahoma StateUniversity, where sheled and managedcomprehensivefundraising for theUniversity’s five cam-puses as vice presidentfor development. Shealso served in multipledevelopment-relatedpositions during a 14-

year span at Iowa State University, which cul-minated with her tenure as associate vicepresident for development at the Iowa StateUniversity Foundation. In this role, Molinedirected and led the Women’s Giving Initiative,increasing the total amount of giving fromwomen by 138 percent.

Moline also has held positions at KansasState University, Armstrong Atlantic StateUniversity in Savannah, Ga., and FloridaState University.

“My passion is helping make universitiesbetter – for students, faculty, alumni, andbeyond. I know what an institution on themove like Southern Illinois University can doto change lives and impact the future; and I’mexcited to become a part of that,” she says.

“I welcome this opportunity to coordi-nate efforts with our staff, and cultivatesupport from alumni, donors, businessesand corporations in support of this fineinstitution.” �

lished the model high school at what wasthen Southern Illinois Normal University toprovide a training laboratory for future ele-mentary and high school teachers.

A second University history exhibit,100th Anniversary of University Housing cele-brates, as the name implies, residential lifeon campus. Museum Registrar Eric S. Jonescurates both exhibits, which run throughJuly 26.

The L. Brent Kington Memorial Exhibithonors the late metalsmith and professor

Several summer exhibits at SouthernIllinois University Carbondale’s

University Museum will highlight importantaspects of the University’s history.

Exhibits opened in June, and showcasethe early years of SIU Carbondale, residen-tial life on campus, and the artwork of L.Brent Kington and Lee and Eldon Benz.

The University School Exhibit coincideswith a reunion of graduates of the modelhigh school that was part of campus from1874 to 1971. The Board of Trustees estab-

of art whose artistic skill and dedication tothe University put SIU on the fine arts mapin a whole new way. This exhibit also runsthrough July 26.

A fourth exhibit, featuring the artworkof multi-media talent Lee Benz (1918-1986)is part of Mother and Son: The Art of Lee andEldon Benz. Lee Benz produced art in sever-al media, most particularly in watercolor,but also in woodcut print, serigraphs, andsculpture. This exhibit showcases theirworks and runs through Aug. 24. �

On The SideFleege Earns Distinguished Faculty Award

Anthony Fleege, AA ’95, ’97, M.B.A ’99, often jokes that his is the personality that mightsometimes lead someone to forget they just met him hours earlier. But to his former stu-

dents, along with faculty in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, the impact of his quiet,behind-the-scenes dedication in directing SIU’s Mortuary Science andFuneral Service program speaks loudly.

Fleege is the 2013 recipient of the E.J. and Mary C. SimonDistinguished Faculty Award in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts(CASA). E.J. Simon was dean of the college from its inception in 1951until his retirement in 1970, and both he and his wife, Mary Simon,remained strong supporters of the University and CASA.

An associate professor and program director, Fleege says he is“extremely overwhelmed with appreciation” to be chosen. “There are somany other good teachers in this College,” says the recipient, who hasbeen on the faculty since 1999. “I’m humbled and honored to receive theSimon Award. I hope I reflect the spirit of what the Simons expected out

of a teacher.”His work “illustrates how he applies his diverse knowledge in interdisciplinary teaching with-

in the School (of Allied Health) and how sincere he takes his teaching responsibilities and pro-gram director commitments,” says Charla Lautar, a professor in the dental hygiene programwho nominated Fleege for the award.

SIU Carbondale is the only university in Illinois to offer a bachelor’s degree in mortuary sci-ence. Fleege is one of three full-time faculty members in the program.

In addition to his teaching, Fleege is a funeral director with Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke FuneralHome in Carterville and deputy coroner for Williamson County. �

Balasubramanian Wins Mentoring Award

SIU Foundation Director of Annual Giving Nanditha Balasubramanian,was recently recognized as the organization’s first administrative/pro-

fessional staff member to win the University Women’s ProfessionalAdvancement Mentoring Award.

The award encourages the creation of a mentoring climate at SIUCarbondale and recognizes those individuals on campus who havedemonstrated inclusive excellence in their dedication to mentoring stu-dents and staff and have modeled excellence in their work ethic.Balasubramanian, who has been with the University since 1996, develops,organizes, implements, and supervises a comprehensive annual fund pro-gram that supports SIU. �

NandithaBalasubramanian

Anthony Fleege

Patricia Moline

Alumni Profile

Southern Alumni 11

by Gordon Pruett

Located in New York City, Cheri Preston’87 is the midday anchor for all the

Information Network stations affiliated withABC News Radio. She anchors the hourlynewscasts and bottom-of-the-hour briefsfor stations across the country, and alsowrites and edits what goes on the air, han-dling any breaking news and specialreports, and anchors breaking news asneeded.

On the day of the Boston Marathonbomb attack, she worked long into thenight, anchoring coverage and hosting aone-hour special. ABC News Radio broad-casts on the hour to its more than 2,000affiliates, and it is the largest commercialradio news organization in the UnitedStates.

Each morning, Preston scrutinizes thetape file that holds all the sound she has towork with that day. It might include piecesfrom White House correspondent AnnCompton, Capitol correspondent VicRatner, or wraps (a news report that com-bines the voice of the announcer, the voiceof the newsmaker, and background sound)and voicers (on-the-spot reports of eventsby a reporter) from a variety of correspon-dents across the country or overseas.

Next, Preston looks for opportunitieswith the day’s upcoming events – newsconferences, special events, etc. She lovesthe spontaneity of her job, which is fueledby being in the nation’s largest news-gen-erating city. “The thing I love about workingmy shift in particular is that things are hap-pening all day long,” she says. “You mighthave something planned for the 2:00 hour,have it all ready to go, and then there’sbreaking news, and you have to rip it all up,throw a live shot on from one of your corre-spondents, and still make it work while hit-ting your in-and-out marks.”

Preston has a special place in her heartfor Carbondale and SIU, noting fond memo-ries of Hangar 9, Gold Mine Pizza, Mary Lou’sDiner, Gatsby’s, Booby’s, and campus radiostation WIDB where she worked. “I had thebest time while broadcasting on WIDB andsimply hanging out at the station,” she says.Located in the basement of Wright Hall, shejokes that WIDB stood for “We’re In DaBasement,” and it provided a meeting withher co-worker, David Landis, who wouldbecome her husband. At the time her news-cast at SIU was followed by the punk rockshow he hosted.

In the classroom she feels she learnedthe most from Ken Keller’s news writingclass. She recalls, “He taught me how to tella story in 10 to 15 seconds – not to burythe lead – and to make it sound current …all things I use to this day in my job.”Preston also loved Frank Oglesbee’s mediacriticism class. “He was a hoot. A lot of stu-dents didn’t put the time into trying tounderstand what he was saying and wouldcomplain that he was too tough. It wastough, and you had to really think to getsome of those concepts.”

After Carbondale, Preston worked inChampaign and Milwaukee. In 2001, sheand her husband made the move to NewYork, though she was six months pregnant.They lived in an apartment in Hoboken, NJ,and their son, Sam, arrived in June of thatyear. A few months later, 9/11 changedAmerica forever.

“We saw the towers fall from the roof ofour apartment. I’ll be honest, I thoughtabout heading back to Illinois at that point.But getting that information on the air andcovering the aftermath was probably thebiggest story I’ll ever be a part of. ABCbought an apartment overlooking GroundZero and for months we broadcast fromthere. Even from our apartment inHoboken, you could smell the buildings

smoldering for about two months.” Changes, arguably advances in technolo-

gy, have drastically altered broadcasting inrecent years, and Preston feels such shifts arenot necessarily for the better. “The wholelandscape of broadcasting has changed inthe past decade. Small-market stations withany sort of a news staff are pretty muchnon-existent. And that used to be where yougot your start. It’s sad, but true. We are con-stantly facing challenges when it comes tohow people get their information, be itthrough traditional means, on their smart-phones or tablets, or by punching an icon ona new car’s dashboard. But those challengesare also opportunities.”

Her advice for aspiring broadcastingstudents is rudimentary: “Do everything.News. Sports. Music. Radio. Television.Online. Whatever. Just do it. And when youstart out, expect to get paid very little.Heck, when I started out, I worked for freeairing the Sunday church shows and read-ing lunch menus at WRTL in Rantoul, Ill.,just to get on the air.

“Give it time. You’ll realize soon enough ifyou want to do it the rest of your life. Then therest will fall into place. Overall, it’s an excitingjob. And that’s why we got into broadcasting,right? Otherwise, we’d have studied account-ing or molecular biology or something.” �

Preston Anchors News For ABC Radio

Preston, who worked at WIDB when she attended SIU, met her husband at the studentstation. Located in the basement of Wright Hall, she jokes that the call letters stood for“We’re In Da Basement.”

For Amy and Lisa Kandziorski, the SIU campus has already become a second home for them.

13Southern Alumni

W hen Lisa Kandziorski was a little girl,she dreamed of the day she couldleave home and go away to college.

Being in a wheelchair because of Cerebral Palsy never deterred herfrom reaching that goal.

“I’ve always been deter-mined not to let anything stopme,” she says. “Perhaps I wouldget there in a different mannerthan other people, but I alwaysknew I could do it.”

The New Lenox, Ill., residentbegan her collegiate career atnearby Joliet Junior Collegethree years ago. When it cametime to transfer last fall, it wasan exciting – and anxious –moment for Lisa and her family.

Kerry and Al Kandziorski had done virtually everything for theireldest daughter over the years, and now they faced the day theyknew was inevitable.

“I wanted to come to SIU Carbondale when I was 18 but knew Iwasn’t ready,” Lisa admits. “Now I was 22 years old, had morecourage to try it, and told my parents that I was going to finish myeducation there. I felt like if I didn’t take the step right then, Imight never do it. That beingsaid, it was really difficult formy parents to let go.”

At the same time Lisa wasmaking this decision, heryounger sister, Amy, had gradu-ated from Lincoln-Way CentralHigh School and was decidingwhere to begin her college expe-rience. She had applied at bothSIU and Western IllinoisUniversity, but quickly decidedthat only one thing made sense:She and her sister would cometo Carbondale together.

“It was a tough time for my parents. We are their only children,they were losing us both at once, and at that time, Mom and Dad

Lisa Kandziorski Amy Kandziorski

All smiles in this Christmas photo taken almost 15 years ago, Lisa (left) and Amydisplay the close bond that would grow even stronger as they got older.

did everything for Lisa,” says Amy, whorealized the sheer courage it would takefor Lisa to leave her safe haven at home.In college, when the lights went out, Lisa

would be truly isolated at night with hercell phone serving as her only lifeline.

Although not initially part of theplan, the sisters would soon become

roommates and form anamazing bond that contin-ues to grow.

Starting TheirSaluki ExperienceWhen their parents

moved Lisa and Amy toThompson Point last year,they checked them intoseparate rooms in SmithHall. The siblings wanted tobe close to one another, butLisa felt Amy deserved tolive her own life. Theyagreed that being nearby –yet apart – would be themost sensible approach.

Or so they thought.“We were just two doors

away from one another,”Amy recalls. “However, thatlasted only two days; wereally did not like beingapart.” At 3 a.m. on thethird night they were inCarbondale, Amy quietly

moved her belongings into Lisa’s room.Lisa admits the change quickly paid

dividends.“I was right where I wanted to be but

had never been away from my parents,”she says. “When I first arrived at SIU, Iwas overwhelmed about everything, butwhen Amy moved in, I felt so much bet-ter. I also knew she was worried aboutme, so it helped her as well.”

Lisa also immediately inspired heryounger sister.

“She is such a courageous person,”Amy says. “Those first few days at SIU Ithought about what she was facing – fivehours away from home, relying on per-sonal assistants instead of my parents,and ready to embrace getting around ahuge campus. Thinking about it wasemotional for me.”

With each fleeting moment, however,their relationship – and Lisa’s indepen-dence – blossomed.

Starting To GrowAfter a few days filled with anxiety

about her new surroundings, Lisa soonembraced her new challenges. Shequickly began to learn the best way totraverse the campus and remainedfocused on earning a degree in early

childhood edu-cation.

Planning tobecome akindergartenteacher, shefeels fortunateto have a formof CerebralPalsy that ismild in termsof affecting hercognitive abili-ties.

“It’s a bigdeal, becausemany with thisdisability arenot able to goto college,” shesays. “I have

14 Southern Alumni

From left, Amy, Kerry, Lisa, and Al Kandziorski.

The Secret Lisa Didn’t Know

Although Lisa and Amy Kandziorski discovered a great dealabout one another during those first few months in

Carbondale, one thing the older sibling had no idea about wasa video project her sister was preparing as a Christmas present.

Called “For My Sister, Lisa,” it depicts Amy’s deep feelings forher sister. “The first few months we lived together, I watched herdo all these great things and deal with everything so well,” Amyrecalls. She made the video on Dec. 5, 2012, and sent her parents

a copy.Overcomewith emo-tion, itmade itimpossiblefor them tokeep thevideo asecret fromLisa.

Softmusicserves asthe perfectbackdropfor a scrap-book show

of family photos, mostly featuring Lisa and Amy. In it, Amy sitssilently in front of the camera in their dorm room, telling thestory of her sister’s courage – and more – by holding up notecards. They detail how Lisa lives, struggles, and overcomesCerebral Palsy.

“By using notecards to tell the story, it took the need for myvoice out and made it all about Lisa,” Amy notes. “I think eachday about how she shows so much strength. I have never onceheard her complain about not being able to walk, and I wantedthis video to be inspiring. If you are disabled, forget about it;shoot for your dreams.”

The video surprised Lisa.“I knew Amy loved me, but to see what she wrote on the

cards was amazing,” Lisa recalls. “And the reaction of the otherpeople who viewed it on YouTube was really touching.”

When their first semester away from home came to a closebefore Christmas, the Kandziorski sisters were by then firmlydetermined to continue to maintain their growing indepen-dence. There would be no car ride home with Mom and Dad.Instead, they boarded an Amtrak train and settled in for thelong trip home to the Chicago area.

Their parents would simply meet them there.

– Thanks to Ann Piasecki ’79, editor of the New Lenox Patch,where part of this story on the video first appeared.

To view video: www.siualumni.com/sisters.

15Southern Alumni

always been in a regular classroom set-ting with everyone else, and when itcomes to academics, I am totally normal.I have never allowed instructors to babyme, and I don’t want anyone to feel sorryfor me because I’m in a wheelchair.”

Amy, who is majoring in social work,says she is motivated by her older sister’sperseverance in and out of the classroom.“I might think I’m having a tough day orhave too much homework to get through,and then I see Lisa doing so great dealingwith many more obstacles to handle thanI do. She never complains.”

As those early days at Southernturned into weeks and weeks becamemonths, the roommates began to noticea change in their relationship.

“We always got along well,” Lisanotes, “but we found in some ways weweren’t as close as we might havethought. Growing up, I did my ownthing, Amy did her thing … and thatwas fine. At SIU, we discovered thatthere was a lot about one another thatwe hadn’t noticed before.”

Although they often continue to “dotheir own thing” at SIU, hang out with

Amy, here enjoying some time away from the classroom, says rooming with her sister hasbrought them closer than she ever could have imagined.

SIU Was The Right Place

Years before Lisa Kandziorski arrived at SIU Carbondale, she was already aware of theUniversity’s long and proud commitment to serving students with disabilities. She visit-

ed the campus after graduating high school and sensed that Southern was the place for her.“As someone in a wheelchair, I quickly noticed that there is a great amount of attention

placed on making SIU accessible,” Lisa says. “That’s important for me, and I’m not afraid tospeak up and let someone know if I notice something that needs to be changed for stu-dents to get around better. I have to be my own advocate; no one else should be expectedto do that for me.

“I’m still sort of amazed how well I get around campus, but the plan SIU has followedover the years makes that possible.”

To learn more about SIU’s commitment to serving students with disabilities, go tohttp://disabilityservices.siu.edu.

– Gene GreenLisa on her way to class from her room atThompson Point.

different friends, and enjoy varied inter-ests, Amy says their relationship is nowmuch different. “We talk more, we under-stand so much more about one another.We basically have also bonded as firstyear students at a University that wasnew to each of us.”

Finding Her WayBefore coming to SIU Carbondale, Lisa

yearned to be more self-supported but real-ized she wasn’t ready for that next phase inher life. “Part of it was because I couldn’t beindependent, and part of it was because Iwas afraid,” she admits. “One of my mainhurdles is I can’t drive; someone has to takeme where I am going. Now I go almost any-where at SIU in my wheelchair, thanks inpart to a campus with a great historicalrecord of understanding the needs of peo-ple with disabilities (see sidebar story).

“And if I want to leave Carbondale, Isimply go downtown and get on thetrain. That has been wonderful, and Itake it all the time. The people thereknow me now and are great.”

“Lisa’s right,” Amy adds with alaugh. “I know our parents were ini-tially concerned about her traveling,but now she goes home more than Ido. She went back for spring break; Ididn’t.”

Both will be home for the sum-mer, and although they are excited tosee family and friends, the sistersadmit it will be a strange experience.

“It will be weird being home andnot hear Lisa yell something like, ‘Seeyou later, I’m going to the StudentCenter,’” Amy says. “And we will notbe sharing a room. I’m strangely sadthat we will not be in Carbondale thissummer.”

Will it be much different when thepair heads south again in a fewmonths?

“Things have gone so well for usthis first year that it should be easierfor our parents to see us come backto Carbondale,” Lisa says. “I knowthat I will miss SIU and be ready tobe back on campus.”

16 Southern Alumni

Amy calls Lisa “the toughest person I know,” andsays she is inspired by her sister each day to be thebest person she can be.

National Champions

Southern Alumni 17

by Andrea Hahn

Within the space of one week, theSouthern Illinois University

Carbondale Debate Team earned twonational titles this spring, cementing theUniversity’s position as home to one ofthe nation’s top debate programs. In theprocess, SIU became one of only six uni-versities ever to win both national titlesin a single year; and this is the seventhyear Southern has won a national title.

The duo of Mike Selck, a senior fromBlue Springs, Mo., and Josh Rivera, asophomore from Chicago majoring inpolitical science, won the NationalParliamentary Tournamentof Excellence (NPTE), host-ed at the University ofNevada, on March 20. Theteam closed out the seasonby winning the NationalParliamentary DebateAssociation NationalTournament (NPDA-NT)hosted by the University ofthe Pacific.

“We are extremely proudof our national championdebate team,” ChancellorRita Cheng says.“Everywhere they travel tocompete, our studentsdemonstrate their commit-ment to excellence and SIU’sfocus on student success.They are wonderful ambas-sadors for our University.”

The debate team hasplaced a team in the “Final Four” at theNPTE, the most prestigious collegiatedebate tournament in the United States,for six straight years, including a nation-al championship in 2008, for which theteam was honored at the Illinois State

Capitol. At the conclusion of that tourna-ment, a coaches’ poll named Rivera thetop debater overall in the tournament.Selck placed third in the same poll. ToddGraham, director of the University’sdebate program, says Rivera might bethe first sophomore ever to claim thecoaches’ poll award.

Rivera notes that the team’s prepara-tion included spending spring breakresearching topics and practicing for 12hours a day. “Winning both nationalchampionships was an amazing experi-ence,” he says. “The debate team workedexhaustively to ensure that we did ourbest at the tournaments.”

SIU posted two debate duos in the“Final Four” of the NPDA-NT. Selck andRivera won the tournament, and team-mates Ben Campbell, a senior fromSpringfield, Mo., and Sid Rehg, a juniorfrom Swansea, Ill., majoring in speech

communication, finished third in thetournament. SIU is the only Universitywith two teams in the “Final Four” with150 teams competing.

The debaters fared well in the coaches’poll at this tournament as well. Campbellwas named third best overall debater, andRehg was named ninth best. “We wonevery national championship our organi-zation awards (there are two), making usunquestionably the best debate team inthe country,” Graham says.

SIU Carbondale has won a nationalchampionship in debate in each of thelast four decades – 1986, 1987, 1988,1989, 1996, 2008, and now, 2013. Graham

explains that intercollegiatedebate is based on researchand logic. He has alwaysstressed preparation withhis team, and it shows. Towin the NPTE, Selck andRivera debated on a total of14 different topics, includ-ing the two final rounds oftopics: whether the UnitedStates should substantiallyimprove its ballistic missiledefense capabilities, andwhether the Republic ofTurkey should enact consti-tutional measures to pro-tect Turkish Kurds.

Other topics touched onstudent loans, SocialSecurity, drones, syntheticbiology, and renewableenergy. Debaters have just20 minutes to prepare

before each debate, so having somefamiliarity with the topic offers anadvantage.

A total of 864 debate duos competedin intercollegiate parliamentary debatethis year. �

The Great DebateSIU Team Captures Two National Championships

Joshua Rivera, left, and Mike Selck hold the NPTE NationalChampionship hardware. This is the seventh year that SIU Carbondalehas earned a national title, and it is only the sixth university to winboth titles in the same year.

Southern Alumni18

On The Job Training

by Gordon Pruett

Atime-honored tradition at SIU, theExtern Program pairs students and

businesses in a real job environment.Junior and senior students gain invalu-able experience by spending a week,always during spring break, with a spon-sor that is appropriate to the student’sfield of study.

Established by the SIU AlumniAssociation, the program has flourishedsince its inception in 1984. In 2012, 126students were paired with 105 sponsors.

A participating sponsor in the pro-gram since 2009 is the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (Fla.) International Airport.John Pokryfke ’87, Airside OperationsManager with the airport, oversees theprogram, which recently hosted two avi-ation students at the Florida airport.Jason McNally, a student from Mokena,Ill., and William Ward, a Georgetown,Ky., native, spent a week shadowingPokryfke and other airport personnelthrough their daily duties.

Their experiences were diverse, rang-ing from firing pyrotechnics to control-ling wildlife activity to working withtower controllers. “Different meetingsubjects included construction, airlines,and safety,” McNally recalls.

“I also had the chance to get out onthe airfield and participate in one of thedaily airfield inspections. This includedinspecting the pavement, lights, lookingfor debris on the field, and anything elseunusual.”

Ward bubbles with enthusiasm whenhe recalls his week in Florida.

“Getting to see how the field of avi-ation works on a daily basis outside ofclass really helped me understand and

bring everything that I’ve learned whilein school here at SIU together,” he says.“The externship really got me excitedfor what I am getting into and will bedoing for the next 40 to 50 years.”

Pokryfke enjoyed interacting withSIU students, calling the Association-sponsored endeavor “a great programthat I hope continues to impact theUniversity.” �

The Extern Program … A Time-Honored Tradition

Jason McNally and Will Ward remove foreign objects from the airport’s landing area.

Externship Leads Correll ToMajor League Soccer Position

Another sponsor in the Extern program this spring was Major LeagueSoccer, a professional league composed of 19 teams in the United States

and Canada. Andrew Correll, a native of Batavia, Ill., and an avid soccer fansince the age of 5, was matched with the league’s national sales center inBlaine, Minn.

Correll made sales calls on behalf of the Colorado Rapids to targeted cus-tomers, and his participation in the program benefitted him, as he has accept-ed an offer as a sales trainee in the Blaine office. He wrote the Association, “Ijust wanted to thank you for your work coordinating the Externship program.As a result of my externship, I got a job offer with Major League Soccer and willbe starting in July. I may have not gotten this opportunity had it not been formy Externship.”

In 2013, the Association’s board of directors also awarded 26 travel awardstotaling $11,000 to assist students with their travel expenses.

To learn more about the Extern Program, contact Director of Student, College,and Constituent Relations Tuesday Ashner at [email protected], or call the SIUAlumni Association at 618-453-2408. �

2013 Extern Participants/Sponsors

On The Job Training

Southern Alumni 19

SIU Extern travel award recipients in 2013 were, front row, from left: Dominique Woodhouse, Amanda Stubbart, Kathleen Hand, JoseMartinez, Kayla Fuller, Samantha Snyder, Elizabeth Radtke, David Lynch, Arpit Shah, Kelci Jones, Kristen George, Dawn Cavaness, andAmani Alholail. Back row: Andrew Cohler, Mazen Metwaly, Andrew Correll, Daniel Klenck, Samuel Means, Melissa Verbeck, Erica Kirsch,Colten Baker, and William Ward. The funds helped offset travel expenses connected with participating in the Extern experience.

Student Sponsor BusinessDhay Aldhawyan Kathy Fanning Smith + GillAmani Alholail Jamie Lineweaver Youth VillagesBryan Arnold Jennifer Prose BoeingColten Baker Joe Brinkmann Trivers Associates, Inc.Taylor Behl Terry Crotty Christner, Inc.Taylor Beimfohr Barb Martin ‘03 SIU PressLindsay Blankenship Misty Phillips Springfield ClinicDennis Bowers Krissy Biggs ‘01 Kemper CPA Group, LLPMayra Buenrostro Teresa Guy Wal-MartKevin Carney Anthony Petruzzi ‘92 Transamerica / World Financial GroupDawn Cavaness Beth Mueller ‘94 Deloitte Tax LLPAndrea Chairse Joyce Hofstra National Labor Relations BoardKevin Clark Brad Karsh JobBoundRyan Clevenger Michael Abba ‘90 Ameren IllinoisAndrew Cohler Terry Blue ‘96 General Mitchell International AirportAndrew Correll Jeff Berryhill Major League SoccerDerek Diesburg Brian Schmit ‘95 HobbicoAnitra Dorsey Erin Kopec ‘08 Extra HelpJordan Duby Amanda Kaemmerer Girl Scouts of Southern IllinoisEunice Dye Seth Patterson The San Jose GroupErica Dyroff James Lynch Storyville PostAbigail Englund John Lustig ‘96 Illinois State MuseumTyler Fellows Bret Spiller ‘02 Hunter Engineering CompanyLogan Fox Sarah Gitersonke ‘06 AKA Media IncKayla Fuller Joe Brinkmann Trivers Associates, Inc. Kendra Fustin Jennifer Varga Memorial Medical CenterKristen George Camille McLamb Camille Victoria Weddings LLCMelissa Ginder Kristin King Southern Illinois HealthcareAmelia Griggs Lisa Kobialko ‘05 Dr. William J. Bennett III DDSNathaniel Grunert Robyn Russell Office of Economic and Regional DevelopmentKathleen Hand Nicole Berry Chicago Park DistrictRachel Head Allison Miller SolidLine MediaSean Hehir Jennifer Prose BoeingWesley Herrmann Amy Ott Greater Rockford Airport AuthorityLauren Hilmes Judy Weis ‘92 Rural Family MedicineTimothy Hodits Jennifer Prose BoeingMorgan-Symone Hopkins Seth Patterson The San Jose GroupTorin Hopkins Joseph Dumit University of California, DavisAlyssa Issler Brian Schmit ‘95 HobbicoSheldon Jackson Jennifer Prose BoeingKelci Jones Sarah Gitersonke ‘06 AKA Media IncLandon Kennel Jennifer Prose BoeingOliver Keys Thomas Bovinett ‘07 Chrysler Group, LLCErica Kirsch Tammy Robbins Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. LouisDaniel Klenck Eric Long ‘79 National Air & Space Museum, SmithsonianJoseph Klontz Allison Miller SolidLine MediaKrystal Knight Krissy Biggs ‘01 Kemper CPA Group, LLPBrian Konagel Anthony Petruzzi ‘92 Transamerica / World Financial GroupMary LaCamera Ken Harris Fred Sparks DesignChelsea Laux Scott Grott ‘86 Metro Transit St. Louis, MOSara Lawler Glen Gdalman ‘04 Silver, Lerner, Schwartz & FertelBrice Lazaro Mark Scalley SIU AthleticsJohn Leco Marianne Grisdale TEAMS Design USA

Student Sponsor BusinessBixi Li Timothy Marlo SIU Alumni AssociationNicholas Lillig Jennifer Prose BoeingDanYale Locke Charlene Guss Burrell CommunicationsDavid Lynch Elizabeth Blackston Illinois Attorney General’s OfficeKiera Mallett Lovia Smith Beacon Therapeutic Diagnostic and Treatment CenterJose Martinez Elizabeth Kutterer ‘05 Mackey Mitchell AssociatesCole McCormick Michael Davis Orthopedic InstituteJason McNally John Pokryfke ‘87 Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport –

Broward County Aviation DepartmentSamuel Means Nick Shasserre ‘05 Blackbird StudioMazen Metwaly Elizabeth Kutterer ‘05 Mackey Mitchell AssociatesKristina Miller Jim Clark PepsiCoJustice Moore Pete Jansons ‘89 CareerBuilder.comKatherine Moore Jeremy Pinkston ‘00 Black Diamond Harley-DavidsonBridget Munoz Katelyn Mullen ‘11 The Center for Children’s ServicesRobert Musial Christine Hayward Legat Architects, Inc.Isaac Myrickes Marcel Kuper ‘71 M.V. Kuper PCJenny Ozga Tara Deaton Southern Illinois Medical ServicesKrunalkumar Patel Rebekah Garner Family VideoScott Polczynski Jodie Cunningham St. Louis RamsMackenzie Prather Sharon Ayers MoosylvaniaElizabeth Radtke James Lynch Storyville PostAshley Rickard Tom Brackett Whitney, Inc.Ashley Rippentrop Jeremy Pinkston ‘00 Black Diamond Harley-DavidsonCaitlin Ritschel Molly (Mary) Rawlinson ‘03 United States Army Corps of Engineers Rend LakeTapiwa Saliji Teresa Guy Wal-MartKatia Salomon Michael Kimmel City of Carbondale Law DepartmentMary Sanders Nick Shasserre ‘05 Blackbird StudioJulie Schechter Bob Fricke MSTN MediaNicholas Schlund John Vazquez ‘85 Mt. Sinai Medical GroupKyle Schneider Jennifer Prose BoeingKelsey Schroeder Ryan Anderson ‘07 Landrum & BrownArpit Shah James Lynch Storyville PostLeah Shirley Erica Kottabi Pricewaterhouse CoopersTina Sickinger Robin Koehl ‘92 Franklin Williamson Bi-County Health DepartmenSamantha Snyder Brad Fox ‘79 Big Shoulders Digital Video ProductionSean Stout Jennifer Prose BoeingAmanda Stubbart Ralph Latta ‘96 St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Family Health CenterMichael Stuckslager Brad Fox ‘79 Big Shoulders Digital Video ProductionJory Sturdevant Marcia Bouray FHN Memorial HospitalChelsea Sullivan Courtney Krupa Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer FoundationCameron Thomas Harold Emling Memorial Medical CenterJennifer Thomas Jennifer Varga ‘74 Emling & Hoffman, P.C.Melissa Verbeck Jennifer Prose BoeingWeiran Wang Steve Goepfert ‘75 United AirlinesWilliam Ward John Pokryfke ‘87 Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport –

Broward County Aviation DepartmentTrevor Ward Kay Dosier 1187 CreativeStephanie White Pete Jansons ‘89 CareerBuilder.comJohn Wilson Robert Laing ‘08 A&E Television NetworksKaley Wind Carey Kogol i.c.starsDominique Woodhouse Judith Pastorino Rehab Choice Incorporated

“It’s amazing because you can earn amuch better salary without payingtaxes,” she says. “And there are moreholidays here, which present moreopportunities to travel. I had only beento Canada and Mexico and wanted tosee more.”

Mazzone says the school also pays forher housing and other expenses. Sheteaches 16 hours weekly, compared to sixclasses per day in the States with oneperiod off for planning. Another reasonshe left the country is she commencedan online relationship with someonewho had left his native Italy to begin anew life in Dubai.

20

A Leap Of Faith

SIU Alumna Teaching In The Middle Eastby Greg Scott

Any career move is an adjustment.But it’s truly a leap of faith when

this change occurs on foreign land. SIU alumna Lara Mazzone left Brehm

Preparatory School in Carbondale, whereshe held a position as a special educationinstructor for seven years, to teachEnglish at Emirates International Schoolin Dubai. The 2003 English graduate justcompleted her first year of teaching inthe Middle East, admitting that the ini-tial culture shock almost resulted in anabbreviated stay.

As a matter of fact, Mazzone was sooverwhelmed that she didn’t leave herapartment alone until her second weekin the country.

“Dubai is like living in areal-life episode of TheJetsons,” she says. “I wasn’taccustomed to seeing Arabicpeople in native dress. Therearen’t too many Americanshere, either; which isn’t toosurprising.

“Also, I had to get used totaking a taxi everywhere. Andthey are scary. In Dubai, every-one drives like they are ontheir way to the emergencyroom. It was a huge adjust-ment from my calm, laid-backlife in Carbondale.”

Mazzone lives close to a 12-lane super highway and themetro. Additionally, a language

barrier presentedchallenges. Shesays most of theteachers are fromthe UnitedKingdom.

“I had themost difficulttime understand-ing what theywere saying. Youdon’t realize how differenttheir language is,” she says.“I had to familiarize myselfwith so many slang words.”

So Mazzone learned asecond language, which isreferred to as “Queen’sEnglish” in Dubai. With atwo-year contract at theschool, she was determinedto make the adjustment.She had been intriguedabout the Middle East forsome time after learning ofa friend’s experience teach-ing in Abu Dhabi.

Southern Alumni

Mazzone says she has learned a second language inDubai, something she calls “Queen’s English.”

With a student adorned in native clothing, the SIUgraduate says her culture shock soon diminished.

Southern Alumni 21

A Leap Of FaithBrehm agreed to hold Mazzone’s

position at the school for one year. Butshe appears set on continuing her careeron foreign land.

“I’m playing itby ear. It dependson how everythingunfolds,” she says.“It would be diffi-cult to returnbecause my lifestylein Dubai is muchmore comfortablethan in the U.S. Iam even able toafford a housekeep-er and hour-longmassages on aweekly basis.”

But the SIUgraduate and long-time Carbondaleresident, whobecame a fixture asa waitress inHarbaugh’s, a popu-lar establishmenton the Strip, admits

to so many of the students … they are mykids and I miss them. Your own culture isalways special, and there is somethingabout Carbondale that you forever miss.” �

she misses southern Illinois. She plans onvisiting during the entire month of July.

“It was difficult for me to leave Brehm,”she notes. “I truly felt like a parental figure

In Dubai, Mazzone says she enjoys a comfortable lifestyle that would be difficult to duplicate in the UnitedStates. That being said, she admits she misses Carbondale.

Southern Alumni22

Salukis Hiring Salukis

by Gene Green

Liaison Technologies Chief OperatingOfficer Larry Mieldezis ’86 is a key play-

er for a thriving global integration and datamanagement company that providesunique business solutions around theworld. Founded in 2000, the high-tech isbased in Atlanta with offices in Seattle,Santa Barbara, the Netherlands, Finland,Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

When Liaison decided to expand opera-tions years ago, the location selected raiseda few eyebrows. As Jessica Stillman notes onher blog at www.gigacom.com: “Thanks totechnology, Liaison can acquire customers andhire workers anywhere. So when they neededadditional, affordable, quality talent where didthey look? Hands down if you guessed Asia –the correct answer is rural Illinois.”

Growing up in Marion, Ill., Mieldeziswanted nothing more than to stay in thearea when he earned a computer sciencedegree at SIU more than 25 years ago. Hesays at the time that dream was not realis-tic, as technology did not exist to commu-nicate globally from Carbondale.

Now that is does, Mieldezis can offerhigh-tech positions in an area where hegrew up – and the leap of faith has paiddividends. He knew from experience thatSIU was a constant source of good techni-cal talent and wanted to give fellow gradu-ates an opportunity to work close to home.

“The IT talent is so strong at SIU that wereally wanted to go there,” the SIU AlumniAssociation national board member says. “Ifmore companies embrace rural sourcingand take advantage of the local talent, thedays of graduates having to leave areas likesouthern Illinois to get jobs in the technol-ogy sector will become a thing of the past.”

The Early DaysThe Southern graduate moved Liaison’s

formerly-outsourced and offshored techjobs to the Dunn-Richmond EconomicDevelopment Center at SIU in 2010.Operations there expanded enough that anew location was soon needed, and in 2012the company opened offices at 1075 ReedStation Road in Carbondale.

That location commenced with sevenemployees, but has since grown to 32. Nineare part time/interns, and approximately 80percent of all employees are SIU graduates.Mieldezis hopes to hire even more Salukiswho want to stay in the area after graduation.

“Our company is coming off a year ofsignificant growth,” he says. “We grew byalmost 40 percent and have taken on sever-al new clients. As we expand, we value theSIU system and feel that Saluki graduatesare important prospects for us. We’ve madea real investment here, so we hope thosewanting to stay in southern Illinois will findit a perfect fit.”

While fulltime jobs offers great opportu-nities for graduates, part time positions andpaid internships for current student are

also beneficial says Liaison Director ofManaged Services Bonnie Kucharski. “Wehelp provide real world skills for currentstudents who get to work in their field ofstudy,” she notes. “Many companies can’tmatch that, and it serves as an importantpart of their undergraduate experience.”

On-Shoring InitiativeKeeping jobs in the United States – or

“on-shoring” – is becoming more prevalentas tech companies realize the benefits ofusing domestic technical talent in rural com-munities anchored by a technical college oruniversity. Because of the lower cost of living

in rural communities, companies can offercompetitive wages and benefits at a lowercost than in large metropolitan areas.

They can also avoid the problems asso-ciated with out-sourcing overseas, such aslanguage and cultural barriers, regulatorycompliance and security requirements,political instability, and time zone differ-ences.

“Establishing our managed services hubin Carbondale was exactly the right thingto do as evidenced by the success we’veexperienced there, which has led to thisexpansion,” says Mieldezis. “While we arelooking to hire recent SIU graduates, wealso would love to find alumni with a vastamount of tech experience elsewhere thatwant to come back to the area.

“For every person hired in Carbondale,we would have to hire 1.5 in India or China.With our on-shoring initiative, we’ve foundan avenue that is cost-effective and keepsjobs in the United States. While we servemore than 8,000 companies across 35countries, Carbondale has become ourmodel for rural sourcing and we hope oursuccess here inspires other companies tofollow our lead to bring technology jobshome.

“It’s so exciting to see Salukis drivingsuccess in our business.”

To find out more about opportunities atLiaison, go to www.liaison.com. �

Liaison Looks To Keep SIU Tech Talent In Area

Liaison Technologies Chief Operation Officer Larry Mieldezis (left) and Chief ExecutiveOfficer Bob Renner during a 2012 ceremony at the company’s new office inCarbondale. Photo by Paul Newton / The Southern

“Cody was brilliant against WichitaState,” Henderson said of the left handedpitcher. “He’s thrown well against WSUevery time out, but certainly special inthe tournament. He stepped up on thebig stage, and of all of his great outings,that was as good as I’ve seen him.” �

24

Saluki Sports

Forsythe Shines, But Dawgs No Factor In MVC Tournament Seventh-seeded SIU started the 2013

MVC Tournament out on a high note,knocking off second-seed Wichita Statewith a 5-1 first round victory in Normal,Ill. Senior Cody Forsythe was dominantin a complete game performance, win-ning his fourth game of the season andmaking him 4-0 in five career startsagainst the Shockers.

After that outing, however, thingsquickly went downhill for the Salukis.SIU lost the next day 5-0 to Indiana Stateand were then eliminated from the tour-nament after a 15-0 thrashing in arematch with Wichita State. SIU endedthe season 25-33/6-15 in a year thatoften frustrated Saluki Head Coach KenHenderson. It was ironic that Forsythe’souting in the conference tournament

proved to be a major highlight in a most-ly forgettable year.

Southern Alumni

Marion Rushing Dies

Marion Rushing, considered bymany to be the best athlete ever to

play at Southern Illinois University, diedin April at the age of 76.

The Pinckneyville native graduatedfrom SIU in 1957, and during his colle-giate years he excelled at football, bas-ketball, track, and wrestling. In 1978,Rushing was inducted in the SalukiHall of Fame, where his 13 athletic let-ters earned still stands as the most foranyone in school history. Followinggraduation, he went on to play 10 sea-sons in the NFL and AFL, in mostgames wearing a Chicago/St. LouisCardinal uniform.

Rushing, who was featured inSouthern Alumnimagazine in March2009 with the story “The Greatest SalukiEver?” is survived by his wife, Bonnie,their three children, and three grandchil-dren. Memorials may be made to The

Parkinson Society or Beaucoup BaptistChurch Building Fund. �

After the MVC Tournament, Forsythe wasdrafted in the 25th round by Philadelphia.

SIU Softball ExitsEarly At LeagueTournament

The SIU softball team’s season came to anend early at the Missouri Valley

Conference Tournament, as the fifth-seededSalukis opened the tournament with a 7-1win over No. 8 Wichita State before falling toNo. 4 Northern Iowa 6-4 later in the day.Southern finished the season at 25-27 over-all with a 12-10 mark in MVC play.

“I thought the way we came out is howyou have to approach every game,” says SIUHead Coach Kerri Blaylock. “I was pleasedwith how they played this weekend … theygave it everything.

In the opening win, junior Kelsea Ashton’sthree-run double in the second inning gavethe Salukis an early lead, and Southern neverlooked back. SIU loaded the bases on a pair ofwalks and a single before Ashton roped adouble to right-center to clear the bases inthe bottom of the second.

Brittney Lang picked up the win afterallowing no earned runs on three hits withseven strikeouts and just two walks in a com-plete game effort.

In the quarterfinal loss, Morgan Barchan’sgrand slam in the fourth inning gave SIU abrief 4-3 lead, but the Panthers answeredback with two home runs in the next twoinnings to get by the Salukis and into thetournament semifinal.

“She’s a gutsy kid,” Blaylock says ofBarchan. “She came up in a huge situationwhen we needed her the most.” Her grandslam marked SIU’s school-record seventh ofthe year, as the Dawgs had five differentplayers hit one during the season. �

Rushing, here as a member of the Falcons,was considered one of SIU’s best athletes.

Southern Alumni

Saluki Sports

Tickets for the historic first football gameat Busch Stadium between Southeast

Missouri State and Southern IllinoisUniversity are now on sale at the SalukiAthletics Ticket Office.

Ticket prices for the game, which will beplayed on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m., are$17 for adults and $5 for SIU students. Fanscan order tickets in-person at SIU Arena orby calling 1-877-SALUKIS. Season ticketholders and Saluki Athletic ScholarshipFund members will be given priority seat-ing locations. SIU’s ticket allotment is locat-ed in Sections 157-165, and tickets orderedthrough the Saluki ticket office will bemailed approximately Sept. 1.

The SIU Alumni Association will hostpregame activities at Paddy O’s near BuschStadium, where all are welcome to attend.“This should be a great opportunity for our

alumni to see the Salukis play in a uniqueatmosphere,” says Association ExecutiveDirector Michelle Suarez. “We hope alumni,their families, friends, and students will joinus there.”

For updates on the pregame event, goto www.siualumni.com for updates andinformation. Also check our website forspecial room rates that will be available toalumni at the Hilton at the Ballpark.

The official announcement of the gametook place during a press conference onApril 15 and was the culmination of monthsof behind-the-scenes work between officialsat SIU, SEMO and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 80-game series between the twoschools – separated by just 45 miles – datesback to 1909. The Redhawks hold a 39-33-8advantage, but Southern has won six of thelast seven meetings. �

Renovations will include: • Installation of FieldTurf• A grandstand seating bowl• Press box• New dugouts• Security fencing• Sports lighting

Donations for the project are stillbeing accepted. For more information onhow you can help, contact Casey Hale, SIUAssistant Athletic Director forDevelopment, at 618-453-5625. �

Board Approves Abe Martin Renovation

Tickets On Sale For SIU Football Game At Busch

original budget of $5 million. With amatching loan from the University, SIUwill be able to update the second-oldestathletic facility on campus.

When completed, the renovated AbeMartin Field will provide Saluki Baseballa home that reflects the great history andtradition of the program. Added to theexisting clubhouse and batting cage area,the renovated complex will be one of thepremier on-campus venues in theMissouri Valley Conference.

The Southern Illinois UniversityBoard of Trustees officially

approved a full renovation of AbeMartin Field, and construction beganshortly following the 2013 season. Therenovation is slated to be completed forthe 2014 baseball season, and the parkwill be renamed Itchy Jones Stadiumafter legendary Saluki Head CoachRichard “Itchy” Jones, who took SIU to10 NCAA Tournaments and threeCollege World Series appearances in his21 years with the Salukis and led thecampaign for the stadium renovation.

The team clubhouse will be namedafter late Head Coach Dan Callahan, thesecond-winningest coach in school his-tory with 442 victories in 16 seasons.

“It’s a great day for Saluki baseball,”SIU head baseball coach Ken Hendersonsays. “There has been a lot of work doneby many people, so it’s definitely a groupeffort that wouldn’t have happenedunless alumni and friends stepped up asdonors.”

The SIU athletic department hasraised nearly $1.8 million in privategifts to fund the project, which came inmore than a million dollars under the

Itchy Jones Stadium will feature spacious grandstands, press box, and new fan areas look-ing out on a FieldTurf playing surface and stadium lights. “This wouldn’t have happenedunless alumni and friends stepped up,” says Saluki Baseball Coach Ken Henderson.

Saluki fullback Ray Agnew and SIU HeadFootball Coach Dale Lennon on the fieldat Busch Stadium following the pressconference to announce the SIU-Southeast Missouri game. Agnew’sfather, Ray, played for the St. Louis Ramsand now works in player personnel.

the program as the team’s director ofbasketball operations. Beck was on theSIU women’s basketball staff for 19years, including some of the best sea-sons in program history. She served 17years as an assistant under Hall of FameCoach Cindy Scott from 1981 to 1998and was the Salukis’ head coach from1998 to 2000.

In her new capacity, Beck’s responsi-bilities will include making travelarrangements, organizing practice times,serving as a liaison with academics andmarketing, and assisting in alumni andcommunity service events.

“Julie Beck brings so much to theprogram,” Stein says. “I couldn’t ask for abetter person to fill this position. Shebrings energy, passion for people, and adesire to be successful in getting the pro-gram to the top of the Valley. Even morethan all of that, she is probably one ofthe finest human beings that I know.” �

26

Saluki Sports

Stein Named Women’s Basketball CoachSIU Director of Athletics

Mario Moccia recentlyannounced the hiring ofCindy Stein as the head coachof Saluki women’s basketball.

The 10th head coach inprogram history, Stein brings16 years of head coachingexperience with a combinedrecord of 282-206 at IllinoisCentral College, the Universityof Missouri, and EmporiaState University. A provenwinner and a former NCAADivision II Coach of the Year,she has made an immediateimpact in each of her previ-ous head coaching stints.

“Cindy has won at everylevel she has been at, she has ademonstrated history of turn-ing around programs and get-ting to postseason play, and she has deeproots in the state of Illinois,” Moccia says.“I look forward to Coach Stein’s tenure,and I know she will be a great additionto the southern Illinois community andSaluki Athletics.”

Stein comes to Carbondale afterleading Illinois Central College to a 32-4record and a third-place finish at theNJCAA Division II national tournamentduring her lone season at the school in2012-13. Stein turned around an ICCteam that went 16-16 the year beforeher arrival.

“I am so excited to be part of theSaluki family and look forward to get-ting to know the team, the staff, alum-ni, and the community that all encom-pass Southern Illinois University,” Steinsays. “My staff and I will promise toput together a team that we all canembrace and be proud of academicallyas well as athletically.”

Prior to ICC, Stein spent 12 seasonsas the head coach at Missouri where sheled the Tigers to 185 wins between 1998and 2010. Stein inherited a Mizzou teamthat went 11-16 in 1997-98 and led theTigers to a 22-10 record with a Sweet 16run by her third year in 2000-01.

Stein spent three seasons as the headcoach at Emporia State prior to Mizzou,turning the Hornets from a sub-.500team into a Division II national title con-tender. After going 12-14 in Stein’s firstseason at ESU in 1995-96, the Hornetsimproved to 20-10 the following seasonbefore going 33-1 and finishing as thenational runner-up in 1997-98.Following ESU’s run to the title game,Stein was named the National Coach ofthe Year by the Women’s BasketballCoaches Association.

As Stein pieces together her staff, oneperson needs little introduction at SIU.Former Coach Julie Beck will return to

Southern Alumni

Cindy Stein spent 12 years as head coach at the University of Missouri, winning 185 games and lead-ing the team to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2000-01. She comes to SIU from Illinois Central College,where her squad finished 32-4 and earned a third-place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament.

Southern Alumni 27

Saluki Sports

SIU Carbondale dedicated its newestadditions to its athletics facilities,

opening the Lew Hartzog Track and FieldComplex and Connie Price-SmithThrows Area with a ribbon-cutting cere-mony this spring.

The new facility, built east of AbeMartin Field, houses a state-of-the-arttrack, a 4,500-square-foot building forlocker rooms and a top-of-the-linethrowing area, now named after headcoach and four-time Olympian Price-Smith.

Saluki Director of Athletics MarioMoccia is delighted the facility is nowa reality.

“Our track and field program has anunbelievably rich history of nationalchampions, record holders andOlympians, and it’s gratifying that wenot only have a state-of-the-art track andthrows area now, but that it will benamed after two Saluki greats,” he says.

A four-time Olympian, Price-Smith isthe most decorated track and field ath-lete in program history. She won 18 out-door national titles, six indoor titles, andfive Olympic trials titles during her 14-

if the athletes hadn’t been so great; that’sthe most important thing of all,” the 90-year-old Hartzog says. “I don’t think Iwould have gone through the trouble ofgetting back to SIU for this ceremony,except I knew many of my former athleteswould be here. That’s what it’s all about.”

For photos of the new complex, go towww.siusalukis.com. �

SIU Dedicates New Track And Field Complex

year post-collegiate career as a world-class thrower. Now in her 12th season asthe Saluki track and field coach, Price-Smith has guided SIU to a combinedfive conference titles and has beennamed MVC Coach of the Year fourtimes.

Saluki athletes have earned 51 All-America honors and five national titlesunder Price-Smith in addition to 148MVC individual titles. Price-Smith saysshe is “humbled and honored to have afacility named after me, and I’m pleasedto be a part of something with Lew’sname on it.”

The namesake of the facility, Hartzog,produced a national powerhouse trackand field program at SIU. During thecourse of three decades between trackand field and cross country, he mentored90 All-Americans, seven NCAA champi-ons, and won 22 Missouri ValleyConference championships. He won 18MVC Coach of the Year awards and wasnamed NCAA National Coach of the Yearin 1982 and 1984.

“I wouldn’t have my name on anything

Several of Lew Hartzog’s former athletes returned to SIU for the ceremony. “I wouldn’thave my name on anything if these guys hadn’t been so great,” he says. “Seeing all ofthese athletes is what it is all about.”

Lew Hartzog

Connie Price-Smith

Southern Alumni28

Off And Running

by Christi Mathis

Agrowing business founded by three formerSouthern Illinois University Carbondale stu-

dents and grown through assistance from theUniversity is a winner in the Arch Grants 2013 GlobalStartup Competition.

RoverTown will receive $50,000 in funding andfree support services. The business was one of 20selected this summer from 707 applicants from 40states and 15 countries. The business, RoverEnterprises, LLC. was launched in 2009 by then-SIUCarbondale students Mike Philip, and co-foundersBrad Miller and Joshua Freeman.

Philip was at the time an information systemsand applied technologies major. Freeman earned hisfinance degree in December 2009, while Miller com-pleted his management degree in May 2010.

“It is gratifying to witness the evolution of anidea by three former University students into ascalable venture. Their passion and drive is to becommended,” says Kyle Harfst M.B.A. ’96, Ph. D.’06, executive director of the Southern IllinoisResearch Park and executive director ofEconomic Development.

Initially, Rover Enterprises produced a $20 plastic RoverCardthat students could purchase and use to get discounts and specialdeals at participating area businesses. Businesses could changetheir deals on a daily basis.

Philip, the company’s chief executive officer, is a 2009 graduateof Operation Bootstrap, a collaborative program between the SIUCarbondale Office of Economic and Regional Development andthe Delta Regional Authority set up to help new or potential busi-nesses. The company earned $3,000 in start-up funding throughthe program.

They made a small profit their first year and soon moved thecompany to the Southern Illinois Research Park’s Small BusinessIncubator at SIU. The company evolved quickly.

RoverTown is now a mobile marketing company that allowsarea businesses in college towns to reach students through mobiledevices, which enhances their business traffic by offering studentsspecial discounts and deals. Students can also scan table displaysto participate in a loyalty program, similar to a paper-punch card.The company motto is “Throwin’ you bones,” and the bones, ofcourse, are discounts.

The popular discount program, a client of the Small BusinessIncubator and the Illinois Small Business Development Center atSIU, has expanded extensively in just a few years. According toPhilip, 1.4 million college students on nearly 70 campuses nowhave access to the RoverTown student discount program indozens of states from Hawaii to New York. He says more than2,000 businesses reach college students via smartphones, with12 businesses gaining exposure to students every 60 seconds onthe platform.

Participating businesses pay a $50 monthly fee to the companyto receive “Roverlink,” software developed by Rovertown thatallows businesses to manage their discounts on students’ smart-phones, view analytics, and track their return on investment.

Philip notes that the company has proven successful in a num-ber of ways, as evidenced by the significant growth and expansionand by the fact that it has raised more than $100,000 in capitalbefore winning the Arch grant. In February 2011, RoverTown wasSouthern Illinois’ only downstate participant for the ChicagolandEntrepreneurial Center’s CAP 20 program, a component of theCluster Acceleration Program. The program fosters growth by con-necting startup businesses with statewide resources over a five-year period.

Currently joining Philip as principals in the company are MichaelRzeznik, a 2012 SIU Carbondale graduate in information systemsand applied technologies from Lake Zurich who serves as chieftechnology officer, and Jeffry Harrison, a 2012 SIU Edwardsvillebusiness administration finance and entrepreneurship graduatefrom Red Bud and former student trustee on the SIU Board ofTrustees, who serves as chief operating officer. RoverTown officerssay SIU Carbondale and the Office of Economic and RegionalDevelopment have been instrumental in their success.

In conjunction with the Arch Grants competition, designed tohelp grow businesses and entrepreneurship in St. Louis, RoverEnterprises will relocate to St. Louis this summer. To learn moreabout RoverTown, visit the website at www.rovertown.com or fol-low it on Twitter at twitter@rover_mike.

For more information about the Office of Economic andRegional Development and the many programs and services itoffers to businesses, visit http://researchpark.siu.edu/about.html.�

Student-Founded Business Wins Global Startup Award

RoverTown CEO Mike Philip (left) and RoverTown COO Jeffry Harrison startedtheir business in 2009 while still students at SIU. The Arch Grants competitionis designed to help grow businesses and entrepreneurship in St. Louis.

Modern Art

Southern Alumni 29

The Museum of Modern Art in NewYork recently acquired for its perma-

nent collection, SIU Carbondale alumnusArch Connelly’s 1981 Self-Portrait, a 20-inch oval canvas covered in subtle col-ored faux pearls.

The work was one of 35 major workson view at La Mama La Galleria in thesurvey exhibition. This was the first com-prehensive survey of his work has beencurated since he died in 1993. JimmyWright M.F.A. ’71 contributed an essay tothe catalog and loaned five major worksand ephemera to the exhibition.

The Museum of Modern Art has beenfilling its collection of important artistsfrom the East Village in the 1980s. TheConnelly work joins the museum’s KeithHaring mural and the Four Seasons byDavid Wojnarovic among other land-mark works by artists of the period.

Connelly was born on May12, 1950, in Chicago andreceived a bachelor’s degreein art from SIU in 1973. Hiswork has been shown inter-nationally: in Japan, Sweden,Germany, Holland, Franceand Italy. In 1996 the SIUMuseum hosted the exhibi-tion Arch Connelly: Works1981-1993 organized by theIllinois State Museum.

In 1989 the chairman of theboard of Chase Manhattan Bankcommissioned Connelly to cre-ate a motorcycle helmet encrust-ed with sequins, faux pearls,stones and glass as a birthdaypresent to Malcolm Forbes onhis 70th birthday. Forbes calledthe effort “brilliant.” �

Connelly Work Acquired By Museum Of Modern ArtConnelly Work Acquired By Museum Of Modern Art

‘alt.news 26:46’ Again Wins Top National Honor

Connelly’s “Culture and Landscape” from 1984,acrylic, pearls, and costume jewelry on plywood.

For the sixth time in the program’s14-year history, “alt.news 26:46” is topsin the nation when it comes to collegetelevision news magazine programs.SIU’s student-produced program wonthe College Television Award during theAcademy of Television Arts & SciencesFoundation’s 34th annual CollegeTelevision Awards ceremony April 25, inLos Angeles, Calif.

The winning episode beat out sub-missions from Florida A&M Universityand Emerson College, which finishedsecond and third, respectively.

“Winning first prize is a greatachievement, but keeping this up againand again is a testimony for the highquality of education that students inMCMA are receiving, professionally andcreatively, and the talent and dedication

of both students and faculty,” says DafnaLemish, interim dean of the College ofMass Communication and Media Arts.

Lemish also congratulated associateprofessor Jan Thompson, an award-win-ning documentary film producer whoserves as faculty adviser.

Haley Conner, a senior in radio, tele-vision and digital media from Du Quoin,and Cara Gordon, a senior from Ballwin,Mo., who has a double major in cinemaand political science, were the program’sexecutive producers.

Conner, who is specializing in videoproduction and electronic journalism,said she’s very proud of the hard workthat went into this season. She andGordon were both in their second yearwith the program, and six of 11 staffmembers were new.

The winning episode took a look atMorgan’s Wonderland, the world’s firstultra-accessible amusement park in SanAntonio, Texas, an exotic wildlife ranch inGlen Rose, Texas, a “Cathedral of junk” 20years in the making, and a 12-mile ToughMudder course in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

According to current alt.newsrecords, the show’s national CollegeTelevision Awards came in 2000, 2001,2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013, to go alongwith two second-place finishes and onethird-place finish. In addition, since2001, the program has earned 30 region-al Emmys – 28 from NATAS’ Mid-America chapter in St. Louis and twofrom the Chicago Midwest Chapter.

alt.news 26:46 airs on WSIU-TVChannel 8. More information is availableat altnews2646.com/. �

Southern Alumni30

Service Redeems Graduate

by Maj. Brooks LittleKABUL, Afghanistan

He grew up with nine brothers and sis-ters in a low-income neighborhood.

His father was a machinist and was dealingwith the constraints of a family budgetwhere there wasn’t much room for manycomforts, but his parents were hard workingand passed that belief on to the children.

As a teenager, Army Maj. Mark Donahuefelt there was no escape to a more stablelife and dropped out of school at age 18. At50, the 1996 Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale graduate has not only escapedthe negative aspects of his past, but looksforward to a future of helping others alsoachieve success.

Since entering the military, Donahuehas returned to high school for his diplo-ma, earned a bachelor’s degree from SIUand a master’s degree from WebsterUniversity. “Dropping out of high schoolwas the biggest regret in my life,” he says,“but it gave me a greater sense of value forhigher education.”

Donahue is serving a tour of duty atKabul Afghanistan International Airportwith the International Security AssistanceForce (ISAF) Joint Command (IJC) and isserving as the lead National Guard JointForce Manager. The Worchester, Mass.,native arrived there in December 2012.

Finding HimselfIn his teen years, Donahue faced a crisis

of identity. He felt that the dysfunctionalyouth in his neighborhood was pulling himin. “I was a trouble maker,” he admits. “I wasin the wrong crowd and had to fight togain respect.”

Aspiring to do and be more, Donahuereflected on his family’s legacy of militaryservice and decided to make his own con-tributions. His father, several uncles, and allthree brothers served in the military. Hisown military career started in 1981 in theMassachusetts Army National Guard. Afterbasic training, he found a new purposeand sense of belonging that allowed himto be something greater than what hecould be alone.

“I came home from basic training andknew I wanted to go back,” he says. “The mili-tary gave me benefits, escape, and education.”

Donahue spent four years in the ArmyNational Guard before transferring to theNavy, where he served for another eightyears. Prior to his third deployment, he meta woman who would change his life: HeidiMoser Gwynn.

After approximately 10 months of dat-ing, they decided to secretly get marriedbefore that deployment. It wasn’t until hereturned from duty that they disclosed itto their families. Until then, the only oneswho knew of their wedding were thejudge who married them and their dog,Tissie, who served as a “witness” to theevent. After the mobilization, they had aformal wedding with family and friends inJuly 1989.

Returning To The GuardDonahue has served in many capaci-

ties since his return to the Army NationalGuard in 1993. He chose to leave theNavy because he wanted to devote timeto his new family. It also allowed him towork at achieving a commission andserving as an officer.

After the events of 9/11, he has devotedhis time to all three major theaters of oper-ations: Operation Noble Eagle, OperationIraqi Freedom, and now OperationEnduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He has

also worked at the Army National GuardReadiness Center in Arlington, Va., in theOffices of Force Management andMobilization Readiness. These experiencesled him to his current assignment of assist-ing International Security Assistance ForceJoint Command.

Lt. Col Howard Schauer, a programmanager at the National Guard ReadinessCenter in Washington, D.C., has workedalongside Donahue since 2010. He says headmires Donahue’s dedication to serveabroad in the interests of the UnitedStates. “Maj. Donahue is a selfless patriot,”notes Schauer.

One of Donahue’s biggest professionalconcerns is the current fiscal crisis com-monly referred to as sequestration. He sayshe understands this is something that theArmy will have to work through carefully,and knows he is but one of many leftuncertain about their future because of fis-cal issues.

He is happy that after a decade of devo-tion to the Army’s mission, he can returnhome and be more devoted to his wife andhis family.

“Everything is about family right now,”he says. “They have committed so muchtime without me, and now I get the oppor-tunity to spend time with them.” �

Education And Service Help Grad Find Success

U.S. Army Maj. Mark Donahue in front of the flag plaza outside International SecurityAssistance Force Joint Command headquarters at North Kabul International Airport.(U.S. Army courtesy photo/Released)

A Learning Experience

Southern Alumni 31

Acompetition among 22 students inSouthern Illinois University’s

Carbondale’s College of Engineering waslauded as a bonding experience that willserve each participant well in the future.

“Crew Station 2040 Challenge:University Capstone Competition,”sponsored by Boeing Military Aircraft,pitted two teams of SIU Carbondalestudents in a multi-step project. All stu-dents were seniors majoring in electri-cal, computer, or mechanical engineer-ing. Their task was to design the“Cockpit of the Future.”

The projects of both teams – TeamHorus and the Flying Pharoahs – werereviewed and scored by Boeing officialsat various points throughout the acade-mic year, with the final presentationstaking place April 26 on campus. In aclose competition, Team Horus defeatedthe Flying Pharoahs. However, membersof both teams say everyone is a winneras a result of participating in the nine-month project.

“It presents students with an opportu-nity to think outside of the box and getout of the conundrum of meeting in classon a daily basis,” says Ed Winkler, BoeingTechnical Fellow and two-degree sciencealumnus of SIU. “They used their creativejuices to visualize where technology isgoing to take this industry. This is a goodresume builder that could perhaps serveas an advantage in the job market.

“You learn a great deal through com-munication alone. You can’t just do yourown thing. There are three differentaspects of engineering involved, andyou’re working with 10 other people.This is much like the real world.”

Boeing provided each team with a setof system design requirements listingessential features. The teams created

physical or virtual designs, communicat-ed with Boeing mentors by sharing sta-tus reports, and conducted a detailedpresentation for Boeing judges to ana-lyze. Boeing also provided funding forthe students to purchase materials tobuild their physical mock-up designs.

Nick Musick, a senior in electricalengineering from Eureka and TeamHorus member, says the competition wasbeneficial for both teams.

“Everyone worked hard, and it’s beena learning process for all of us,” he says.“The competition was sportsmanlike.The teams are going to share presenta-tion slides with each other. We are aclose-knit group, and I’m sure we’ll keepin touch and support each other wellafter graduation.”

Justin Wolfe, a senior majoring inmechanical engineering from

Bloomington and Flying Pharoahs teammember, says, “We are all graduating,and this project will forever serve as abond between us. It’s unlike the class-room setting because we acquiredhands-on experience. And you learn agreat deal through working togethertoward a common goal. We are all dri-ven to be better communicators.”

Winkler says Boeing has sponsoredthis contest at other universities. Next year,Boeing officials are planning a competi-tion between SIU and Tennessee State.

“I enjoy working with various institu-tions. It is project-based learning andserves as an extension of the classroomexperience,” he says. “Students receive anopportunity to turn theory into practice.And hopefully, I am giving somethingback to SIU, because the University hasmeant a great deal to me.” �

Members of Team Horus pictured (front row from left) are: Anthony Seneca, KevinOrtega, Mathew Geevarghese, and Corey Corbett. Standing are: Student ProjectManager Nick Musick, Jimmy Quinn, Kyle Einecker, Eric Neubert, Azahel Herrera, FouadAli, Steve Miener, representing Boeing, Steven Bass, chief engineer for Boeing MilitaryAircraft, Larry Olson, representing Boeing, Ed Winkeler, an SIU alumnus representingBoeing and spearheading the partnership, and Landon Kennel.

Boeing Challenge: A LearningExperience For SIU Students

Southern Alumni32

Student Success

by Gordon Pruett

In the 20th NASA Great MoonbuggyRace at the U.S. Space & Rocket

Center in Huntsville, Ala., the SIU teamwon the prestigious Neil ArmstrongBest Design Award presented for solv-ing engineering problems associatedwith lunar travel. The SIU team includ-ed Ryan Schmidt ’13 (team leader),Tsuchin Chu (faculty adviser), TimAttig ’12 (machinist), Caleb McGee ’13,Zach Pringle ’15, Dan Rogers ’13, NickSager ’13, Dylan Sartin ’13, KaylynShaw ’14, Ryan Spencer ’15, and JessicaWharton ’13.

The competition involved more than90 high school and college teams from 23states, Puerto Rico, Canada, India,Germany, Mexico, and Russia and washeld the last weekend in April. The racechallenges students to design, build, andrace lightweight, human-powered buggies.Race teams traverse a grueling half-milecourse that simulates the lunar surface.The winning teams post the fastest racetimes in their divisions with the feweston-course penalties. In describing the SIUentry, team leader Ryan Schmidt says, “It’sessentially a big, recumbent bicycle.”

The 2013 team learned from theproblems of the past with the realiza-

tion that subsystem (frame, drivetrain,suspension, etc.) design and fabricationshould be integrated as much as possi-ble with other subsystems. Fivemechanical engineering students –McGee, Rogers, Sager, Sartin, andSchmidt – designed the buggy, whiletwo mechanical engineering students –Pringle and Spencer – assisted in fabri-cation, and Wharton worked on fabrica-tion and fundraising.

A native of Carterville, Ill., Schmidt,has been involved with the last severalSIU Moonbuggy teams and was respon-sible for the design of the all-importantsuspension of this year’s entry. “I went to

SIU Moonbuggy Team Wins NASA Design Award

SIU Moonbuggy Team 2013: seated, Dan Rogers and Kaylyn Shaw; standing, Ryan Spencer, Dylan Sartin, Zach Pringle, Caleb McGee,Ryan Schmidt, Nick Sager, Jessica Wharton, Tim Attig, and Tsuchin Chu.

Student Success

Southern Alumni 33

great lengths to research and design asuspension that was a better fit for a racecar than a bicycle,” he says. “Many bug-gies go to competition with no suspen-sion. When they hit obstacles, they goairborne and cannot be controlled. Ourbuggy was designed so that the wheelswould be on the ground as much as pos-sible. This gave us the control we werelooking for. It was lightning fast.”

Attig, tool and instrument mechanic(machinist) for the College ofEngineering, assisted in the machineshop fabrication of many of the cus-tom-made parts for the moonbuggy. He has been working at SIU for the pasteight years, and has contributed histime and talents to the past five bug-gies. He overheard a judge in Huntsvillesay the design award was well-deserved, stating “the students thatmade this [the SIU entry] could beworking for NASA.”

Attig also pointed out that building amoonbuggy can be an expensive propo-

sition. While he was instrumental increating custom-built parts for thebuggy, it made sense to simply purchaseothers. The moonbuggy’s two-speedtransmission carried a $400 price tag.In total, nearly $7,000 in underwritingwas required for the project, and plansfor funding the 2014 SIU entry havebegun. (Anyone interested in under-writing next year’s entry can contact theteam’s faculty adviser at [email protected] 618-536-2396.)

Shaw, the rear competition driver forthe buggy, looks to the future for SIU’steam. “I am grateful to have had theopportunity to be a peddler in the com-petition. I am a junior in electrical engi-neering, so I hope to return next year toadd a telemetry component, assist in afew minor additions, and pedal to a top-3 finish in the race next year, and alsobring home another Neil ArmstrongDesign Award.”

The Great Moonbuggy Race wasattended by Clarke Moore ’95, an engi-

neer with Bokler Systems Corp. inHuntsville, who had unreserved praisefor the Carbondale entry. “When I metthe team, I was taken aback with thehigh level of competence. The studentswere vastly more capable than I wasduring my senior year at SIU! The SIUMoonbuggy design was head-and-shoulders above anything else enteredthe competition.

“The workmanship, as exhibited byjust the welds on the frame, shows thatthe students will be a serious asset forwhatever firm is lucky enough to hirethem. The team and their hardwaremade me proud to be a Saluki!”

The NASA Great Moonbuggy Race issponsored by Lockheed Martin, Boeing,Northrup Grumman Corporation, andAerojet. More information on the com-petition can be found at http://moon-buggy.msfc.nasa.gov/, and the SIUteam’s participation can be seen athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnVrRzJdJME. �

The race car–inspired suspension was designed by Ryan Schmidt.

Photos by Ryan Sch

midt.

Alumni Obituaries

BRANTON, Viola H. “Vi,” ’322/17/2013, Grass Valley, Calif.

YEHLING, Violet Mae Woodhouse Cox, ’352/13/2013, Rantoul, Ill.

FRANKLIN SR., George A., ’383/08/2013, Saint Paul, Minn.

BEGGS, Mary E., ’41, M.S. Ed. ’634/06/2013, Harrisburg, Ill.

OCHS, Wilma, ’41, M.S. Ed. ’4912/18/2012, Okawville, Ill.

STRUSZ, Fern D., ex. ’414/18/2013, Oxford, Mass.

GOYAK, Elizabeth F., ’434/07/2013, Fort Myers, Fla.

HERR, Mary L., ex. ’432/01/2013, Mesa, Ariz.

DALE, Margie B., ex. ’442/22/2013, Mount Vernon, Ill.

LACKEY, Doris., ex. ’455/05/2013, Vandalia, Ill.

BARRA, PH.D., Marguerite C., ’464/15/2013, Johnston City, Ill.

DILLINGHAM JR., Hervie, ex. ’463/21/2013, Lafayette, La.

HILTON, Ellen L., ex. ’462/26/2013, Makanda, Ill.

ROLANDO, Carl F., ’46, M.S. Ed. ’513/28/2013, Auburn, Ill.

HICKS, Orloff H., ’47, M.S. Ed. ’495/30/2012, Rochelle, Ill.

MAGILL, Evelyn M., ’475/03/2013, Wapella, Ill.

SIKKEL, Virginia M., ’47, M.A. ’503/21/2013, Brooklyn, Conn.

THOMPSON, Mariana Trovillion, ex. ’474/07/2013, Metamora, Ill.

COLLINS, Patricia A., ex. ’483/13/2013, Murphysboro, Ill.

BRADLEY, Robert D., ’495/05/2013, Marion, Ill.

CRAWFORD, Col. Kenneth (Ret.)., ex. ’4911/18/2012, San Antonio, Texas

FARRIS JR., Odie L., ex. ’494/08/2013, Springfield, Ill.

PEEBLES, Wallace L., ’49, M.S. Ed. ’545/14/2013, Marion, Ill.

SMALL, Pauline S., ’491/13/2013, Galatia, Ill.

SMITH, Loy R., ’49, M.S. Ed. ’583/27/2013, Crab Orchard, Ill.

BEGGS, Virginia R., ex. ’503/19/2013, Du Quoin, Ill.

BLADES, Lois J. Banker, ex. ’501/26/2013, Dallas, Texas

SCRIVNER, Joe H., ex. ’503/29/2013, Mount Vernon, Ill.

BANDY,Mary R., ex. ’5104/24/2013, Texico, Ill.

FOX, Elizabeth Jane “Betty”, ’523/03/2013, Marion, Ill.

RUSH, ED.D., Wilmer S., ’523/10/2013, Jacksonville, Fla.

COOPER, Betty J. Hiller, ’532/08/2013, Belleville, Ill.

MCCUAN, Heze L. “Mac,” ex. ’533/02/2013, Marion, Ill.

SLEDGE, Joan H., ’534/12/2013, Marco Island, Fla.

VANDAMENT, PH.D.,William E., M.S. Ed ’534/20/2013, Signal Hill, Calif.

MELVIN, Donald R., ’544/08/2013, Brownsburg, Va.

MOBURG, Leon F., M.F.A. ’544/13/2013, Redlands, Calif.

STEWART, Kenneth D., ’542/17/2013, Stonefort, Ill.

STORY, Jack L., ’54, M.S. Ed. ’592/27/2013, Belleville, Ill.

McCLUSKIE, Jack J., ’554/13/2013, Alton, Ill.

MISENHEIMER, Carolyn A. Cowart, M.A. ’553/20/2013, Terre Haute, Ind.

SPRINGER, Eugene, ’5511/22/2012, Odessa, Texas

BIONE SR., John V., ’562/13/2013, Thompsonville, Ill.

DOLLINS, Jane H., ’563/05/2013, Benton, Ill.

FORNEAR, John C. “Jack,” ’56, M.S. Ed. ’662/22/2013, Sesser, Ill.

HILSENHOFF, Robert D., M.A. ’565/02/2013, Manteno, Ill.

KING, Barbara J., ’564/21/2013, Trenton, Ill.

MILLS, Gary P., ’564/09/2013, Scottsdale, Ariz.

RULE JR., Lee, ’562/28/2013, Girard, Ill.

CARNEGHI,Mario A. “Mike,” ’574/23/2013, Carterville, Ill.

CHELI JR., Dominic “Lou,” ’571/18/2013, Saint Charles, Mo.

TONDINI, Dorothy J., ’572/25/2013, Marion, Ill.

TROVILLION, Joyce R. Berry, ’572/13/2013, West Frankfort, Ill.

ARNOTT, Peter G. “Pete,” M.S. Ed. ’585/3/2013, Murphysboro, Ill.

BYNUM, Maury L., ’582/09/2013, Chicago, Ill.

CROCKETT, David L., ’583/10/2013, North Little Rock, Ark.

GIANAKOS, Julius, ’583/04/2013, Hanna City, Ill.

KIAS, Michael J., ’582/26/2013, Sullivan, Ill.

RICHARDSON, David T., B.M.E. ’583/29/2013, Chattanooga, Tenn.

ADELMAN, Sherwin M., ’59, M.A. ’652/04/2013, McLean, Va.

CARSON, Bertha L., ’592/17/2013, Pinckneyville, Ill.

EHRLICH, Rose G., ’59, M.S. Ed. ’602/11/2013, Austin, Texas

HOWALD, Robert L. “Bob,” ’592/14/2013, Fort Worth, Texas

RUSHING,Marion G., ’594/26/2013, Pinckneyville, Ill.

TAYLOR, Arthur D. “Arch,” ’592/15/2013, Lebanon, Mo.

TAYLOR, Thomas E., ex. ’593/02/2013, Avon, Ind.

COATES, William R. “Bill,” ’603/29/2013, Belleville, Ill.

MATELIC, Gale B., ’602/23/2013, West Frankfort, Ill.

McKINSTRY, Frances A., ’99, M.S. ’0412/31/2012, Pinckneyville, Ill.

NELSON, Leah Ziegler, ’613/05/2013, Carmi, Ill.

BOWLES, Edward E., ’624/15/2013, Marion, Ill.

BRYANT, Duane D., ’623/20/2013, Mount Vernon, Ill.

COOK, Muriel E., ’623/21/2013, Royalton, Ill.

GRIGGS, Jerry D., ex. ’622/13/2013, West Frankfort, Ill.

HURRELBRINK, Gail R., ’622/15/2013, Springfield, Ill.

ROBERTS, Ralph R., Ph.D. ’623/28/2013, Iowa City, Iowa

SHAW, Eugene H., ’622/19/2013, High Point, N.C.

BARR, Joseph P., ’635/06/2013, Maryville, Tenn.

BOEHRINGER, Larry C., ’634/29/2013, Carmi, Ill.

BROWN, Robert D. “Bob,” ’633/10/2013, New Bern, N.C.

HELTSLEY, Ernest C. “Ernie,” ’635/04/2013, West Frankfort, Ill.

VINCENT, Larry C., ’632/22/2013, West Frankfort, Ill.

HEBERT, Melvin L., ’642/22/2013, Effingham, Ill.

JOHNSTON, Irwin A. “Irv,” ’643/05/2013, Elgin, Ill.

KOHRING, Evelyn I., ’644/21/2013, Oakdale, Ill.

OZMENT, Dr. Lyle D., ’64, S.P. ’933/16/2013, Pittsburg, Ill.

RIVERS, Price C., M.A. ’64, Ph.D. ’674/16/2013, Lincoln, Neb.

BATTEAU, William C. “Bill,” ’65, M.S. Ed. ’743/04/2013, Vergennes, Ill.

DOUBET, Charles B., M.S. ’653/11/2013, Bloomington, Ill.

GAUEN, Joseph W., ’652/10/2013, Avon Park, Fla.

MILFORD, John N., M.S. Ed. ’664/17/2013, Freeburg, Ill.

CARNAGHI, John R., ’672/20/2013, Tallahassee, Fla.

FENDRICH, Jerry, ’67, M.B.A.’684/06/2013, Evansville, Ind.

LITTLEFAIR, Margaret A., ’67, M.S. ’691/25/2013, Johnston City, Ill.

MILLER, PH.D., Thomas V., M.S. ’675/01/2013, Louisville, Ky.

PHEMISTER, M.D., Thurman L. “Dr. Corky,” ’67,M.S. ’692/02/2013, Duluth, Minn.

BENNETT, Eloise, ’68, M.S.Ed. ’7612/23/2012, Chicago, Ill.

BODENBENDER, Andrew J., ’684/11/2013, British Columbia, Canada

PLETSCH, Lloyd R., ’684/06/2013, Rock Falls, Ill.

ULANE, Rodney E., M.A. ’68, Ph.D. ’713/07/2013, Rockville, Ill.

BLACK, Stephen A., ’693/23/2013, Oak Lawn, Ill.

CARMACK, Marlene F., ’693/10/2013, Salem, Ore.

KERWATH, Ruth T., ’692/05/2013, Carbondale, Ill.

RAWLINS, Charles R. “Chuck,” ’695/02/2013, Des Moines, Iowa

THOMAS, Allen B. “Al,” ’695/07/2013, Carterville, Ill.

WARREN, Ralph A., ’693/14/2013, Overland Park, Kan.

ELZY, Marsha M., ’702/11/2013, Mount Vernon, Ill.LEITZEN, Linda L., ’70, M.S. Ed. ’793/10/2013, Johnston City, Ill.

MELTON, The Reverend Merle E., ’70, M.S. ’732/15/2013, Mount Vernon, Ill.

HOFFERKAMP, Edward H., ’714/30/2013, Rochester, Ill.

MARTIN, Jesse A., ’712/23/2013, Chatham, Ill.

NICHOLSON, Jacqueline, ’71, M.S. ’814/23/2013, Murphysboro, Ill.

PEARCE, Helen K., ’712/05/2013, Norris City, Ill.

ROBBINS, Helen J., ’714/04/2013, Mulkeytown, Ill.

BAMBRICK,Michael P., ’724/13/2013, Carbondale, Ill

FELL, John A. “Andy,” ’724/06/2013, Indianapolis, Ind.

HASTINGS,Michael W., ’723/01/2013, Owensville, Ind.

JENKINS, Michael W., ’7212/08/2012, Sycamore, Ill.

LAWLESS, David T. “Dave,” ’723/12/2013, Springfield, Ill.

PRITCHETT, Shirlee D., ’722/12/2013, Metropolis, Ill.

THOMSON, Peter A., ’721/19/2013, Odessa, Fla.

VANDIVER, Richard D. “Dick,” Ph.D. ’7211/13/2012, Lincoln City, Ore.

CREWS, Betty A., ’73, M.S. ’7510/07/2012, Fruitdale, Ind.

DIEL, Daniel L., ’732/09/2013, Mattoon, Ill.

DUNN, Charles D., Ph.D. ’735/05/2013, Arkadelphia, Ark.

KELLY, Sara C., ’732/02/2013, Wauconda, Ill.

LEVINSON, Marc, ’73, M.A. ’76, Ph.D. ’793/18/2013, Cobden, Ill.

STEINKAMP, Kenneth G., ’733/20/2013, Hoyleton, Ill.

SULLIVAN, Charles B., ’734/24/2013, Menard, Ill.

WENDLING, William H. “Bill,” ’733/14/2013, Naples, Fla.

WIGGINS, Robert G., Ph.D. ’732/21/2013, Hattiesburg, Miss.

BROWN, Barbara H., ’7404/17/2013, Salem Township, Penn.

IMBODEN IV, Francis M. “Buzz,” M.S. ’744/29/2013, Belleville, Ill.

KALTENBACH, Philip X., M.A. ’743/26/2013, Florham Park, N.J.

SMITH, James L., ’747/31/2012, Garden City, Kan.

STEWART, Hester R. Moore., Ph.D. ’744/30/2013, Brooksville, Ky.

ARENS, Suzanne G. “Toots,” ’752/19/2013, Homer Glen, Ill.

BOSTON, David R., ’755/07/2013, Herrin, Ill.

LEDERER, Jeanne M., ’752/18/2013, Denver, Colo.

ROY SR., Thomas M., M.S. Ed. ’75, Ph.D. ’80, M.S. ’854/16/2013, Carbondale, Ill.

COLLINS, Sandra V., ’763/16/2013, Bloomington, Ill.

DAY, Raymond F., ’764/21/2013, Lincolnton, N.C.

JACKSON, Rita L., ’763/04/2013, Chicago, Ill.

MARTIN, Michael D., ’761/09/2013, Bolingbrook, Ill.

SINGER, Dale A., ’772/01/2013, Naperville, Ill.

VOYLES, Robert E., ’772/23/2013, Charleston, S.C.

ASHBAUGH, Jean A., ’783/02/2013, Effingham, Ill.

CARPENTER, David E., ’782/01/2013, Freeport, Ill.

DUNN SR., Gerrold O., ’784/13/2013, San Antonio, Texas

SMILEY, Russell F., Ph.D. ’783/10/2013, Edina, Minn.

THOMAN, John R., M.S. ’781/20/2013, Hyde Park, N.Y.

CARRIGAN, James C., ’793/07/2013, Ladson, S.C.

FARMER, Steven I., ’792/06/2013, Metropolis, Ill.

HALL, Oscar I., ’7912/12/2012, Lincoln City, Ore.

HOGAN, Steven J., ’79, M.S. Ed. ’944/26/2013, Carbondale, Ill.

LIPE, Roger A., ’793/12/2013, Hillsboro, Ill.

In Memoriam

Southern Alumni 35

continued on page 38

Harold O’Neil, FormerLogan President, Dies

Harold O’Neil ’58, M.S. ’60, Ph.D. ’75, the former presidentof John A. Logan College, recently passed away at the

age of 82. His career also included service at CarbondaleCommunity High School as a teacher,coach, guidance counselor, principal,and assistant superintendent.

In 1968, O’Neil was hired at John A.Logan College as dean for student ser-vices, then became vice president forinstructional services and was namedJALC’s fourth president in 1982. He

served on the board of directors for The Bank ofCarbondale from 1988 to 2012 and was a 47-year memberof Carbondale Elks Club. He also promoted the SouthernIllinois Irish Festival after visiting his beloved Ireland onthree occasions.

Southern Alumni36

Association News

12th Annual Greater Michigan Dinner

The Greater Michigan Chapter and the SIU AlumniAssociation hosted 40 alumni to a reception and dinner at

Dave & Buster’s. Mike Behrmann, chairman of SIU AutomotiveTechnology, was the guest speaker and presented updates onthe recently completed Transportation Education Center. ChrisMicha, Dale Hall, Chad O’Brien, and Kent Wilson coordinatedthe event.

St. Louis Alumni Career Fair & Expo

The SIU Alumni Association teamed up with several othercolleges and universities to host a career fair at Chaifetz

Arena in St. Louis. Several Salukis explored various careeropportunities being provided by more than 30 regional andnational companies. A special thank you to Tracy Tucker, HarryFanning, and Jeff Kutterer for volunteering at SIU’s registrationtable. Michelle Garrett from SIU Career Services, andAssociation Executive Director Michelle Suarez attended thefair on behalf of the University.

MVC Tournament Hospitality Suite

The SIU Alumni Association hosted the alumni hospitality suiteat Hilton at the Ballpark during the MVC Conference

Tournament. Thursday’s pregame reception featured SIUCarbondale Chancellor Rita Cheng and Athletic Director MarioMoccia as guest speakers. Saluki Hall of Fame basketball players

Chris Carr and John “Mouse” Garrett were in attendance at theevent. On Friday, a breakfast was provided to all alumni in themorning, and a student recruitment event was held in the evening.

SIU fans enjoying the MVC Hospitality Suite at the Hilton at theBallpark in St. Louis. Thursday’s session featured guest speakersRita Cheng, Michelle Suarez, and Mario Moccia.

Central Florida Spring Picnic

The Central Florida Chapter hosted more than 20 alumni and friends to a picnic at Fort Desoto State Park. Prior tolunch, several Salukis mingled, while others took advantage of the pristine beaches and beautiful weather. After lunch,

SIU Alumni Association Director Zachary Sapienza provided a short program regarding current initiatives on campus.Tom and JoAnn Chamberlain coordinated the picnic.

Tremendous weather gave the Central Florida Salukis a great day to connect and enjoy each other’s company during apicnic at Fort Desoto State Park.

Southern Alumni 37

Association NewsSIU Day With The Nashville Predators

The Nashville Club of the SIU Alumni Association hostedmore than 25 alumni to watch the Predators take on the

Chicago Blackhawks. Following the game, members of the

group gathered at a local establishment to socialize, enjoydinner, and cheer on MVC member Wichita State in theNCAA Tourney. Elle Turner coordinated the event, andAssociation Executive Director Michelle Suarez helped hostthe gathering.

SIU Day With The Miami Marlins

The South Florida Alumni Club hosted more than 25alumni and friends to watch the Miami Marlins battle

the Chicago Cubs. After the game, several Salukis took theopportunity to enjoy the beautiful South Florida weatherand socialize at a nearby establishment. Will Stransky andArt Duffy helped coordinate the event.

2nd Annual Cubsvs. White SoxSpring TrainingGame Outing

More than 50 alumni and friendsattended a White Sox-Cubs

Spring Training game in Glendale, Ariz.,at an event coordinated by PhoenixChapter President Danny Griffin. Priorto the game, Salukis enjoyed a tailgate,where the Association provided lunch.SIU Alumni Association DirectorZachary Sapienza represented theorganization, providing a programwhere he updated alumni about keyinitiatives on campus and answeredseveral general questions regarding thestate of the University.

Baseball action in Glendale this year included a pre-game tailgate before theCubs-White Sox game.

Contact A Chapter Or Club Near YouWant to know more about an SIU Alumni Association chapter or club event near you?

Contact the Association at 618-453-2408 for more information, or go to www.siualumni.com/chapters to contact a chapter or club leader near you.

Alumni and friends from the Nashville Club enjoy a post-gameevent with Executive Director Michelle Suarez.

South Florida Salukis having fun at the Cubs-Marlins game.

Southern Alumni38

Association News

BAG Reunion July 18-21

The Black Alumni Group reunion, held every twoyears, will be held on campus Thursday, July 18,

through Sunday, July 21. The Black Alumni Group, aconstituent society of the SIU Alumni Association, hostsand organizes the reunion.

This year’s theme is “Familiar Faces In FamiliarPlaces.” Reunion highlights include

An SIU administrators’ reception in Morris Library’sHall of Presidents, a signature gala honoring “The Legendsof the Black Alumni Group,” and parties featuring DJs SamChapman, Mike Perez, and The Spin Squad. For moreinformation on this festive weekend, go to www.siualum-ni.com/BAG. If you have any additional questions, callTuesday Ashner at the SIU Alumni Association, at 618-453-2408, or email her at [email protected].

Spirit Reunion In September

The SIU Spirit Group Alumni Reunion, supported bythe SIU Alumni Association and Saluki Athletics,

will be held Sept. 6-7. Saluki Athletics is beginning ayear-long celebration of “100 Years of Saluki Athletics,”and this event will help kick it off.

Those interested may register for the event atwww.siualumni.com/cheer. Also check this site for addi-tional details and contact information.

MISSBACH, Nancy J., ’791/24/2013, Chicago, Ill.

RACUTT, William S., ’795/14/2013, Bloomington, Ill.

SEARS, Glenda M. “Sissy,” ’792/14/2013, Clinton, Ill.

THOMPSON, Thomas N., ’792/14/2013, Round Lake Beach, Ill.

CURTIS,Walter S., ’801/11/2013, Ruckersville, Va.

DIETZ, Peter J., M.A. ’805/05/2013, Portland, Maine

MANDRELL, Evelyn O., ex. ’804/15/2013, Knightdale, N.C.

CARRIER, Alan B., ’815/13/2013, De Soto, Ill.

KING, James V., ’814/27/2013, Benton, Ill.

McGAN, Linda J., M.S. Ed. ’812/07/2013, Herod, Ill.

OSTRANDER III, Alfred I. “Bud,” ’818/06/2012, Middleton, Wisc.

KRAJEWSKI, Amy L., ’822/05/2013, Third Lake, Ill.

LADD, Janice K., ’823/15/2013, Murphysboro, Ill.

BAIN, John H., ’834/03/2013, Johnston City, Ill.

BLOOM, Jeffry J., ’853/30/2013, Rolling Meadows, Ill.

BRAYFIELD, Richard N., ’852/18/2013, Mattoon, Ill.

WATGEN, Heather L., ’855/02/2013, Lawrence, Kan.

SANGRELET, Treasha L., ’862/18/2013, Murphysboro, Ill.

WHITE, Richard J., ’875/02/2013, Port Orchard, Wash.

REED, Darrin L., ’883/30/2013, Woodhull, Ill.

ROBERTSON, D. William, ’882/23/2013, Rockford, Ill.

SHAW SR., Randall P., ’88, M.S. ’895/03/2013, Humble, Texas

DONOVAN, Marilyn P., ’891/28/2013, Arlington Heights, Ill.

EDMONSON, Charlene, ’894/05/2013, Sparta, Ill.

HERNANDEZ, Emilia E., ’8911/05/2012, San Bernardino, Calif.

REYNARD, Charles C., ’891/30/2013, California, Md.

TATE, Freddie., ’8911/01/2012, Grand Prairie, Texas

HOSICK, Margie E., ’902/27/2013, Rockford, Ill.

PAONI JR., David H., ’903/01/2013, Joliet, Ill.

RAMEY, Ruth A., M.S. ’923/24/2013, Goreville, Ill.

DEARING, Charles D. “Chuck,” ’934/21/2013, Westampton, N.J.

GLOVER, Tara M., ’934/06/2013, Carmi, Ill.

ISAACS JR., Cecil J., ’935/05/2013, Glendale, Ariz.

REED, Jason G., ’933/01/2013, Oakwood, Ill.

ROBINSON II, Levell, ’9311/27/2012, Chicago, Ill.

TORRENCE, David F., ’93, M.S. ’995/08/2013, Carbondale, ill.

BOLT, Todd L., ’9412/05/2012, Elmwood, Ill.

FIEDLER, David A., ’94, M.B.A. ’983/20/2013, Centralia, Ill.

STEWART, Paul D., ’943/06/2013, Silverdale, Wash.

FORBES, Terry A., ’952/09/2013, Royalton, Ill.

GALLAGHER, Jeana L., ’953/08/2013, Shreveport, La.

GHANT, Jeannette M. “Ginny,” ’95, M.S. ’983/05/2013, Carbondale, Ill.

SCHALLERT, Joseph A., M.D. ’953/07/2013, Belleville, Ill.

TAYLOR, David M., ’9512/20/2012, Hillsboro, Mo.

RUIZ, Paul A., ’96

3/24/2013, Murphysboro, Ill.SMITH, Michael J., ’964/03/2013, Taylorville, Ill.

SOLA, Harry P., ’963/19/2013, Crestwood, Ill.

WATSON III, Louis L., ’973/12/2013, Park Ridge, Ill.

NELSON, Cathy L., ’044/09/2013, Harrisburg, Ill.

STEWART, Steven W., ’043/17/2013, Rhome, TexasSALINAS, Dave, ’061/22/2013, Aurora, Ill.

HOULE, Derek B., ’073/01/2013, Bluford, Ill.

STANDARD, James A., ’092/13/2013, Springfield, Ill.

AHLE, Ryan T., ’123/16/2013, Sycamore, Ill.

Faculty/Staff BAMBRICK, Michael P., ’72Extra Help Skilled CraftsPhysical Plant4/13/2013, Carbondale, Ill.

BLACKBURN, PH.D., James W.ProfessorMechanical Engineering and Energy Processes2/21/2013, Carbondale, Ill.

DEWEESE, Jewel V., M.S. ’71Emerita, Academic Advisor/ InstructorDepartment of Education3/11/2013, Carbondale, Ill.

GOODE, Vernie R., ’99, M.B.A. ’01Academic AdvisorCollege of Business3/11/2013, Marion, Ill.

HICKS, John W., ’81, M.S.Ed. ’87Safety OfficerCenter for Environmental Health and Safety3/29/2013, Carterville, Ill.

HOWARDS, IrvingEmeritus, Assistant ProfessorPublic Affairs Research Bureau/Goverment4/08/2013, Amherst, Mass.

HUFFMAN, William “Riley Bill” N., ’47, M.S.Ed. ’48Adjunct InstructorMortuary Science3/20/2013, Carbondale, Ill.

LONG, Eddie L.Kitchen HelperUniversity Housing2/18/2013, Marion, Ill.

continued from page 35

You’ve readtheir story.

Tell us yours.siualumni.com/tellus

Every Saluki has a story.

Top Student Employee

Southern Alumni 39

SIU Carbondale honored outstandingstudent employees at a breakfast

recognition ceremony in April as part ofits observance of the annual NationalStudent Employee Recognition Week,and Association student worker HannahMcArthy ’13, a senior marketing majorfrom Marion, was selected as this year’sStudent Employee of the Year. HannahOliver ’13, a senior from Decatur, wasthe runner-up.

McArthy is a receptionist for theSIU Alumni Association, but she hasvoluntarily taken on responsibilitiesnot typically included in her jobdescription. She has been conductingsurveys for the Association – more than50 – and enjoys it so much she mayspecialize in surveys as she seeks post-graduation employment.

Zachary Sapienza ’99, M.S. ’05,assistant director of the SIU AlumniAssociation, says any of the organiza-tion’s 16 student employees are worthyof nomina-tion for theStudentEmployee ofthe Yearaward, buthe was par-ticularlyeager tonominateMcArthy. Hepraises herwork ethic,initiative,attention todetail, andability tomeet andsurpassdeadlines as

traits that made her a valuable employ-ee and, quintessentially, the type ofstudent employee for which the awardwas created.

“Hannah’s unique background inmarketing and her penchant for profes-sionalism have uniquely contributed tothe goals of the SIU Alumni Associationby substantially strengthening andimproving our alumni surveys, and bycontinually representing SIU and the SIUAlumni Association in a positive andprofessional manner,” he says.

Terri Harfst ’89, director of theOffice of Financial Aid, says the week ofrecognition for student employees hon-ors the “obvious benefit” student workersgive to the University, but also acknowl-edges the benefits conscientious supervi-sors provide students.

SIU Carbondale employs approxi-mately 4,400 to 4,500 students. Theannual payroll for these student employ-ees totals approximately $11 million.

Other nominees for the 2013 StudentEmployee of the Year were:

William Brophy, Department ofAviation Management and Flight.

Jamie Franklin, the Office of GeneralCounsel and Legal Affairs.

Philip Kunz, The RehabilitationInstitute.

Gabrielle Lowe, Center for English asa Second Language.

Katie Pendergast, University Housing.Kelsey Pruitt, Student Center

Scheduling Office.Scott Schackmann, The Office of

the Associate Vice Chancellor andDean of Students.

Tyler Shelton, Office of RecordsManagement.

Kay Squibb, Plant and ServiceOperations.

Nicole Stoodley, College of AppliedSciences and Arts Dean’s Office.

Tyler Voss, College of AgriculturalSciences. �

McArthy Named SIU Student Employee Of The Year

From left, Bryan McArthy (father), Tina Shingleton, Zachary Sapienza, Hannah McArthy, and Angela McArthy (moth-er) enjoy the breakfast recognition ceremony.

Southern MemoriesA Song For Vivian

Craig Abbott, Al Manning, Larry Baldwin, Jack Hagerup, JimFlick, Joe Guzzardo, and Greg Drinan.

We noticed that one of the neighbors who was always up fora great party was not there. Where was Vivian? We suspectedshe knew hanging out with this group could be trouble, and ina moment of clarity had decided to stay away. Unfortunately,that was not the case.

In the year since the last event, Vivian had been diagnosedwith pancreatic cancer and was quite sick and unable to leave herhome for any length of time. Almost immediately, the “Brothers”were standing in her driveway. The singing began, and shortlyafter that, we saw her at the window. She came out to where wewere, as we kept on singing. One song that all of us knew well(both tune and words) was something we used to sing at formalfraternity social events. The Sweetheart Song is best described asa love song for the ladies in our lives. The words are simple:

When TX men grow wearyof happy rounder songs,

there’s another song and sweeterthat wafts the dreams along.

Our thoughts go back to Sweethearts,those girls of days gone by.Our dreams are always of you,Sweetheart of Theta Xi.

Your hair is gold like sunshine,or dark as twilight shades.Your eyes like bluest heavensor deep as guarded glades.

Though you’ve such varied featuresneath dark or sunny skies,to you we’ll e’er be faithful,Sweetheart of Theta Xi.

I can tell you that we never sounded better than we did thatevening. Vivian smiled while standing in the middle of our circle.She was frail and walked with a cane, but at least for a momentshe was drinking in the warmth of that special song and evening.When we were finished, she hugged each of us before she wentback into her house. We walked a bit more slowly – and morethoughtfully – as we went back to our host’s home.

The golf was great, the camaraderie of a brotherhood span-ning more than 50 years was irreplaceable, and the event wasan overwhelming success. And the chance to sing to Vivian waslife changing.

It’s hard to describe how you feel when you know you havedone something you will never do again. As it turned out, that was

by Lee Seward ’69

For more than 25 years a small but stubborn core group ofmore than 20 college buddies from Southern Illinois

University – all members of Theta Xi Fraternity and lovers ofthe game of golf – have convened following Labor Day in theChicago suburbs for an annual outing affectionately referred toas “The James Berg Memorial.”

The event is named after a fellow SIU alumnus and brotherwho passed away. About 10 years ago, when more attendees hadextra time for golf and a little more money to travel, weexpanded to include a second stop each spring in Gulf Shores,Ala., home to one of the regular attendees of the “The Berg.”The second tournament stop reflects the culture at the time itwas established and is known as the “Murrie.com Invitational.”

The “Murrie.com” is a bit smaller than “The Berg,” but it is,nonetheless, hotly contested. The tournament includes all the stan-dard challenges: low gross, low net, closest to the pin, longest drive,skins. Indeed, it’s the whole menu – a classic golf outing and book-keeping nightmare. A fair amount of money changes hands, but thegood news is that the bulk of it ends up donated back to the ThetaXi Memorial Fund we established for a scholarship at SIU.

We play four days of golf on three different courses, which isno small feat for guys who at that time of the year haven’tplayed often and are all older than age 65. For those of us whodrive there, it is often six days of golf as we make our way souththrough from the various corners of Illinois and Missouri.

One highly anticipated event is held about midway through“The Murrie.com.” At the home of the resident brother is theChampions Dinner. Tired bones get a needed rest, good behav-ior is a must (our host’s wife is the official hostess), and thefood and beverages are outstanding.

There are few things that are a “given” when old college bud-dies and fraternity brothers find themselves together enjoyingthe comaraderie. One of those “givens” with our group is thatwe will most certainly end up singing! In the 1960s, our frater-nity was pretty good in that department and was always com-petitive at Greek Sing. It was a good way to meet girls, and someof that ability – now loosely described as talent – has remainedwhen we try and fine tune it twice a year.

This particular year’s Champions Dinner was no exception.We sang school songs, old songs, silly songs, drinking songs,and fraternity songs. It was a special time. One tradition is thatseveral neighbors are invited to join us at the feast. Two worldscollide, but the “locals” and the “out-of-towners” get along justfine. SIU graduates in attendance this year were myself and EdMurrie, Thomas Boyd, Bruce Herring, Jim Merz, Julian Pei,Thomas Haas, Ned Coulson, Pat O’Day, Andrew Bernhardt,

40 Southern Alumni

Southern Memories

Southern Alumni 41

Southern Memories story is dedicated to Vivian, a special “Sweetheart ofTheta Xi.”

the last time wewould have a chanceto sing to Vivian. Shedied shortly after ourgolf outing concluded.

Even if we had amulligan, I don’tthink these oldSalukis could havedone it any better. �

Editor’s Note: LeeSeward is a 1969 gradu-ate of SIU and a lifemember of SIU AlumniAssociation. His fellowfraternity brothersinclude bankers, manu-facturing executives,entrepreneurs, financialspecialists, real estate rep-resentatives, salesmen,insurance men, lawyers,teachers, and a licensed ship captain. Many are military veterans, and allare SIU graduates, Theta Xis, and Salukis through and through. This

From left: Andy Bernhardt, Julian Pei, Jim Merz, Bruce Herring, Ned Coulson, Tom Haas, Al Manning, EdMurrie, Pat O’Day, Lee Seward, Larry Baldwin, Craig Abbott, and Jack Hagerup. Not present for photo, JoeGuzzardo.

Class Notes

1940sRaymond Hahn ’48 was

recently recognized at a dinnerin Franklin, N.H., for 60 years ofministry. Rev. Hahn began hisministry in April 1953 in a littlecountry church in west-centralIllinois, near the MississippiRiver. Since then, he has been apastor, associate pastor, minis-ter of education, youth minis-ter, missionary, administrator,interim minister, supply preach-er, speaker, and leader of wor-ship. In his six decades of min-istry, Hahn has served morethan 200 churches and organi-zations of 21 denominations in14 states.

1960sRobert Hays ’61, M.S. ’72,

Ph.D. ’76 offers an insightfulportraitof Gen.OscarKoch, theWorldWar IIintelli-gencechief forGeneralGeorge

S. Patton Jr. in Patton’s Oracle:Gen. Oscar Koch, as I Knew Him.Hays contends that Koch’s over-whelming concern for the wel-fare of his soldiers was respon-sible for Patton’s success.Patton gave intelligence high-est priority and rarely made amove without consulting Kochfirst. Patton’s Oracle has justbeen released in print and e-book by Lucidus Books.

Peter Schakel ’64 M.A. ofthe Hope College English facul-ty has been presented the 49thHope Outstanding ProfessorEducator Award. This award ispresented by the graduatingclass of 2013 to the professor

who theyfeel has thebest quali-ties of aHopeCollegeeducator.Schakel isthe Peter C.

and Emajean Cook Professor ofEnglish and chairperson of thedepartment. He has been amember of the Hope facultysince 1969 and has held hisendowed professorship since1984. An internationallyrespected scholar of C.S. Lewis’work, he has published sevenbooks on Lewis.

1970sPhotographs by David

Nolan ’71 were featured in anexhibit in May and June at theAlly Gallery in Danville, Ill. Nolanhas a special interest in portrai-ture and art photography ofthe nude. While he did spend agreat deal of time photograph-ing the nude, his main empha-sis has been the “social land-scape.” In many of Nolan’s artcreations, he incorporated hisphotography into a three-dimensional artwork such as abox, multimedia collage, instal-lation, or sculpture.

Jim Frank ’71, M.S. ’72 ofSpringfield has donated about$4,700 to his hometown ofSparland, Ill., for a small picnicshelter and other improve-ments. His parents, Tom andMargaret Frank, ran a localhardware, plumbing, and heat-ing business for nearly 50 years,but the family’s presence in thecommunity dates back toGerman ancestors who arrivedin the 1850s.

Chuck Wanager ’71, M.S.’82 has written a novel basedpartly on his experiences as anewspaper reporter. The novel,Jackson Flats, was released thismonth by Vabella Publishingin Carrollton, Ga., whereWanager lives. Wanager worksfull time as an author and edi-tor. His other creative projects

include acollectionof poems,with a 2013releasedate, andhis mem-oirs. Hisback-ground

spans more than 30 years as areporter and editor for variousnewspapers and as awriter/editor in public rela-tions positions.

Jim Pape ’74 has joinedWest Kentucky Community andTechnical College as vice presi-dent of Workforce andEconomic Development, hav-ing served as a manufacturingspecialist for nearly seven yearsat the Illinois ManufacturingExcellence Center at SIU.Pape

hasworkedwithmanufac-turers inIllinoisand other

partner states to improve theirbusinesses by managing pro-jects in production, engineer-ing, production inventory con-trol, safety, finance, quality,research and development, andthe general business office.

After 30 years as an award-winning national correspon-dent, Chris Bury ’75 left ABC

News lastJuly, tellingcolleagues,“It’s been agood run –throughhurricanes,coup d’é-tats, wars,presidential

campaigns, scandals, and allthose quirky little stories alongthe way.” Since then, he’s beenhome in Chicago making plansfor the next phase of his careerand waiting out the last sixmonths of his contract, whichran through January 31. Bury’snext project is a weekly, half-hour public affairs show for

Southern Alumni42

WYCC. He will be one of thehosts of In the Loop, which pre-miered February 14. Bury hasbeen honored by the Universityas an SIU Distinguished Alumnirecipient.

When artist Stan MeyerM.F.A. ’75 opened his show inMarch at the Batavia (Ill.) FineArts Centre, his mother, Elaine,was standing nearby, beaming

withpride.“Mymomwasproba-bly my

earliest inspiration as an artist.”says Meyer. “There was a smallgroup of us in the mid-70s whostarted the contemporary craftmovement … my instructors atSouthern were a big influencein the development of my art.”

Nova Silvy Ph.D. ’75,wildlife and fisheries sciencesassociate department head for

undergrad-uate pro-grams atTexas A&MUniversity,CollegeStation, wasnamed a2012 Senior

Faculty Fellow by Texas A&MAgriLife Research. Throughouthis 40-plus year career, Silvy haspresented 70 invited papers,authored more than 265referred publications, andsecured more than $13 millionin research funding.

The Ann Tower Gallery inLexington, Ky., hosted severalnew paintings by LisaWilliamson M.F.A. ’75, whoreturned to her Kentucky fami-ly home in 2007 after living,painting, and exhibiting herwork for many years on theEast Coast and maintaining astudio in Washington, D.C. Herartwork has been featured insolo and group exhibitions atgalleries and museums acrossthe United States, and is includ-ed in many public and corpo-rate collections.

Alumni listed in maroonare SIU Alumni

Association members.

OPEN

Southern Alumni 43

Class Notes

Monica Miller’s ’76 newbook, Abandoned: The UntoldStory of the Abortion Wars,relates her involvement in thepro-life movement that she hasadvocated. Miller is a professorof theology at MadonnaUniversity and serves as presi-dent of Citizens for a Pro-LifeSociety in Michigan. Abandonedprovides great anecdotes aboutthe tenacity and creativity ofthose who were involved in therescue movement during the1980s.

1980sLongtime gymnastics coach

Phil Savage ’80marvels at thegrowth ofthe OzoneInvitationalin Knoxville,Tenn. “Lookat it,” hesays as hepeers acrossthe spaciousKnoxville

Convention Center. “It startedwith 600 kids in ’93. When wesold it, we had, at the most,1,700 kids. Now there are over3,000.” Born in Venezuela,Savage became involved ingymnastics after his familymoved to the Washington, D.C.,area. He later competed in thesport at SIU, where one of histeammates was longtime U.S.Olympic Coach Kevin Mazeika.

Indiana University East hasappointed Neil Sabine ’81M.A. as the Dean of the School

of NaturalScience andMathematics.Sabine hasserved thecampus asthe interimdean sinceAugust 2011

in addition to teaching as anassociate professor of biology.

Dr. Eric Benink ’82 hasbeen named the chief medicalofficer for NorthwestCommunity Hospital inArlington Heights, Ill. “Dr.

Benink wasthe clearchoice aftermany roundsof interviewswith finalistsand a nation-al search

process that considered over30 candidates,” says BruceCrowther, CEO of NorthwestCommunity.

Glenbard South HighSchool will have a new head inthe next school year with theappointment of Sandra

Coughlin’83 as theschool’snext princi-pal.Coughlinhas worked

in District 87 since 1996, andsince 2011 has served as theassistant principal of instruc-tion at Glenbard East HighSchool.

Andrew Herrmann ’83,veteran Chicago newsman, hasbeen hired as senior editor ofDNAInfo.com Chicago.

Herrmanngrew up innorth sub-urbanBeach Parkand rosefromreporter tomanaging

editor during 28 years at theSun-Times. He most recentlywas editor-in-chief of Sun-Times Media’s west suburbanAurora Beacon-News, NapervilleSun, and Elgin Courier-News.

Col. Thomas Purple Jr. ’83of Rochester has retired fromthe Illinois Army NationalGuard after 30 years of militaryservice. “I’ve truly been blessedbeing in the Illinois NationalGuard,” says Purple. “It may nothave been the path I thought Iwould have taken, but it endedup being the right path.” Overthe last three decades, Purplehas served in several leadershipand staff positions in unitsacross Illinois.

David Colo ’84 has beenappointed Executive VP, GlobalOperations and Supply Chain,at Diamond Foods. He hasmore than twenty-five years ofoperations and supply chainexperience. He spent sevenyears with ConAgra Foods in avariety of senior roles, includingmanufacturing, operations, andfood ingredients general man-agement in the Consumer andCommercial Products Divisions.

Jorge Seminario M.S. ’84,Ph.D. ’88was recently honoredtwice in Lima, Peru, for his pro-fessional accomplishments. InJanuary 2013, the UniversidadRicardo Palma (Ricardo PalmaUniversity), honored Seminariofor his advancements in nan-otechnology and molecularelectronics. And the UniversidadNacional de Ingenieria (National

University of Engineering)awarded Seminario La Antorchade Habich (The Torch of Habich).

Karen Schulz ’84 has beennamed the 2013 Middle SchoolTeacher of the Year for theRockwood School District. For

the last 13years, shehas taughtAcademicStretch atWildwoodMiddleSchool. Shehas taught in

Rockwood since 1984 as both amath teacher and a gifted edu-cation teacher, according to dis-trict sources. Schulz said sheal-ways wanted to be a teacher. “Itnever occurred to me that Imight do something else; I sim-ply believe I was born to teach.”

Southern Alumni 43

Two-Degree AlumnusNamed Thomasboro Mayor

There’s a new mayor in town: SIU alumnus BradleyMorris ’84, M.A. ’96.

Morris decid-ed to run formayor ofThomasboro, Ill.,after speakingwith formerMayor Tony Griloand learning thathe was notgoing to run forre-election.“Thomasboro ishome to me,”Morris says. “I justwant to helptake care of thislittle corner of

the world, to beautify the town, and make things a littlemore pleasant.”

Morris is a full-time sergeant with the ChampaignCounty Sheriff’s Office corrections division. He has held theposition for 15 years. After graduating from RantoulTownship High School and Parkland College, he went on toearn two degrees in administration of justice from Southern.

“Thomasboro is in good hands with Brad,” Grilo told TheRantoul Press. “I have full faith that he will take good care ofthe town.”

As mayor of Thomasboro, Morris sayshe “just wants to help take care ofthis little corner of the world.”

Class Notes

John Cowdery M.S. ’85 hasjoined TRC Industries, a nation-al engineering services,con-sulting, and construction man-agement firm, as senior vicepresident and environmentalsector director. In this role,Cowdery will be responsiblefor working with environmen-tal business leaders to developand implement a five-yearstrategy for growth across thecompany’s markets.

The Ohio High SchoolAthletic Association recentlynamed Renee RoyaltyContino ’86 the recipient ofthe SEI Award. This awardsalutes the values of sports-manship, ethics, and integrityand is presented each year dur-ing the state swim meet inCanton to a high school coach.Contino has coached for 12years at Turpin High School inCincinnati, Ohio. She was an All-American at SIU, where shehelped lead the Salukis to a5th-place finish at the NCAADivision I meet her junior andsenior seasons.

The work of nationallynoted sculptor and metal-smith John Medwedeff B.F.A.’86, M.F.A. ’91 was the focusof an exhibit at the Universityof Missouri–St. Louis’ Gallery210 from February throughApril. The solo exhibition fea-tured selected sculptures,design maquettes, drawings,and photographs for large-scale projects.

Gary Pratt ’86 has beennamed managing director ofmaintenance with AirWisconsin AirlinesCorporation. In his new role,Pratt is responsible for all deci-sions relevant to airworthi-ness, serviceability, and flightsafety, and he is Air Wisconsin’sprimary maintenance liaisonwith the FAA and other regula-tory bodies. Additionally, he isresponsible for monitoringand measuring Air Wisconsin’smaintenance operations tomaximize cost effectivenesswhile ensuring operationalreliability.

Southern Alumni44

Dan Haughey M.F.A.’87has been selected for theIllinois Humanities Council2013 “Road Scholar” Speaker’sBureau roster for his new the-ater presentation, E.A. POE: TheImagination of Edgar Allan Poe.The show also is featured onthe Illinois Humanities Council“Road Scholars” statewide tourroster, and can be booked byschools, libraries, and clubs atthe Illinois Humanities website,www.prairie.org, or atwww.danact3.com.

Cameron Bettin ’87 willtake over as executive director

of thePlainfield(Ill.) ParkDistrict inJuly. Bettinhas workedfor the dis-trict since2004, most

recently serving as the plan-ning superintendent. Since2004, he has been involvedwith Conservation Plainfield, anonprofit environmentalawareness group.

John McNally ’87 recentlywrote Vivid and Continuous:Essays and Exercises for WritingFiction a blunt, cheerful, andhelpful guide for writers, pub-lished by the University of IowaPress. He is the author of threenovels and two collections of

short stories, includingTroublemakers (Iowa, 2000), TheBook of Ralph, and After theWorkshop, as well as TheCreative Writer’s Survival Guide:Advice From an UnrepentantNovelist (Iowa, 2010). A gradu-ate of the Iowa Writers’Workshop, he teaches creativewriting at Wake ForestUniversity and in PacificUniversity’s low-residencyM.F.A. program.

Sculpture Portrays Lincoln’sShort Military Tenure

Ramon “Jay” Castro ’86 continues to garner fundingfor his Abraham Lincoln sculpture, “Burial Duty,”

which is to be installed near Kent, Illinois. The sculpturetakes its name from an event in June 1832, when a youngAbraham Lincoln, then a captain, marched with his menfrom Fort Dixon to Kellogg’s Grove to bury the Illinoisvolunteers who had fallen in battle with Black Hawk.

Against Black Hawk’s warriors, eight American sol-diers died during the Kellogg’s Grove battle. CaptainAbraham Lincoln was tasked with leading his menthrough the arduous terrain from Fort Dixon to the bat-tle site, to locate and to bury the fallen soldiers. In 1887a native limestone monument was erected to pay trib-ute to the fallen soldiers, reburied at its base.

Historically, most representations of Lincoln are ofhis frontier heritage or as a politician, lawyer, or presi-dent. Castro says, “This sculpture portrays another partof Lincoln, his short military tenure during the BlackHawk War.”

Castro says the sculpture was conceived from severalthoughts – from a combat veteran’s point of view whohas experienced eminent danger in war. “Jay Castro is aformer Navy Seal, who served his country,” explainsMichael Beckman, who has family ties to where thestatue will eventually stand. A Vietnam veteran, Castro’stours were as a Navy Frogman, sniper, and a front gun-ner on patrol boats. For his service he received twoBronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and five medals for Valor,and a submission for the Silver Star.

Southern Alumni 45

Class Notes

Intersil Corporation, design-er and manufacturer of high-performance analog, mixed-sig-nal, and power-managementsemiconductors, hasannounced the appointment ofNecip Sayiner M.S. ’88, aspresident and chief executiveofficer of Intersil and a memberof the company’s board ofdirectors effective March 2013.He was most recently the presi-dent and CEO of Silicon Labs.

Daniel Goggin ’89 hasbeen named chief financial offi-cer of the St. Joseph HealthSystem in central Texas. As thehospital’s CFO, he will “take thelead in strengthening the finan-cial structure of St. JosephHealth System in order to sus-tain St. Joseph’s health ministryin the Brazos Valley.”

James Hull ’89, Ph.D. ’05was recently appointed tothree year terms on theMattoon Area CommunityFoundation Advisory Board.Hull is vice president forAcademic Services at LakeLand College in Mattoon,which includes responsibilitiesfor all facets of education atthe college.

1990sMarion Friebus-Flaman

’90 was part of a delegationthat recently visited Fukushima,Japan, to offer support and

learn lessonsfrom the dis-aster, focus-ing on theimpact of thenuclear crisis.She is princi-pal ofThomas

Dooley Elementary School inSchaumburg, Ill., and has familyties to Fukushima, where hergrandfather farmed. “As an edu-cator, I’m interested in findingout what is happening to thefamilies in Fukushima because Iknow many of them had toleave their homes,” she says.

Bell Helicopter hasannounced that Anthony

Moreland ’91 will return toBell Helicopter as NorthAmerican managing director. Inthis role, Moreland is responsi-ble for all sales and marketingactivities in the United Statesand Canada.

John Carr Ph.D. ’91 haswritten a chapter for aColombian reference bookinvestigating biological conser-vation of the continental turtlesof Colombia. In addition towriting this chapter, he alsocontributed to five other sec-tions within the publication. Heis the holder of the KittyDeGree Professorship inBiology at the University ofLouisiana at Monroe and anassociate curator in theMuseum of Natural HistoryWashington, D.C.

Jeff Krehbiel ’91 has writ-ten Immaculate Fracture: AMedical Odyssey, published byMayhaven Publishing ofMahomet, Ill. Krehbiel is anative of Charleston, Ill., but hebegan his medical odyssey onthe Caribbean island of St.Croix. “I wrote this book in partto give readers a look at whathappens when you ignore thefact that you are sick, workharder and never take the timeto think about the mentalstrain of a long, drawn-outmedical issue,” says Krehbiel.

Nick Crowder ’92 is the2013 Forsyth County (Georgia)Teacher of the Year. Crowdersays he started teaching afterpraying to God to guide him ina career “with a true meaningand be helpful to people.”Crowder started teaching in2001, and it’s his concern forstudents that makes him spe-cial. “I care about them and theperiod of life they are in. Withone foot in childhood and onefoot in adulthood, students arelooking to me for affirmation.”

Illinois Central College hasnamed Karrie Redeker ’93 asits new head women’s basket-ball coach. Redeker is slated toreplace Cindy Stein, whoresigned earlier this month forthe head coaching position at

SIU. Redekerplayed col-legiately asan under-grad atSouthern,where shewas a four-year letter

winner and helped advance theSalukis to a GatewayConference Title and two NCAAappearances. In 2005, Redekerwas inducted into the IllinoisBasketball Coaches AssociationHall of Fame.

Margaret Zabiega ’93,M.S. ’95, M.D. ’01 was recentlyhonored by Presence SaintJoseph Medical Center as thePhysician of the Year. Theaward recognizes and cele-brates an outstanding physi-cian who embodies profession-alism, teamwork, clinical excel-lence, and a commitment topersonal growth.

Bryson Baker ’94 has beennamed as Sunset Hills, Mo., cityengineer/public works director. After earning his master’sdegree in engineering at SIU,Baker was hired as assistantcity engineer by FairviewHeights, Ill. He worked therefrom 1997 through 2007,before taking a private-industrymanagement position at SCIEngineering Inc.

Bianca Green JD ’94 waspresented the Athena Award,given for professional accom-

plishment,communityservice, anddevelopingleadershippotential inwomen. Theaward issponsored

by the Champaign CountyChamber of Commerce andSpherion Staffing Services,which underwrites the pro-gram.

Jason Ness ’94 has beennamed the principal of NilesWest High School in Skokie, Ill.Ness has led the school’s stu-dent services programs since

he became assistant principalin 2009 and was responsiblefor guidance and collegecounseling, social work andnursing services, crisis inter-vention, coordinatingresponse to intervention, andstudent scheduling.

Corizon, the nation’s leaderin correctional healthcare solu-tions, has announced the pro-motion of Brian Holman ’95 tosenior vice president of infor-mation technology. In his newrole, Holman will oversee thetechnology management ofcustomer service, businessapplications, clinical systems,security and data center opera-tions, focusing on strategies toeffectively enable employeecollaboration, client solutions,and patient outcomes. Holmanjoined Corizon in 2008 and waspromoted to vice president ofIT in 2009.

Grant Guthman ’96 wasrecently named the 2012 engi-neer of the year for the state’ssouthernmost 27 counties bythe Illinois Association ofCounty Engineers. Guthmanpicked up his award for exem-plary work at the association’sannual conference in lateFebruary at the University ofIllinois. A Murphysboro nativenow living in Ava, he hasworked as the county’s engi-neer since 2003.

Kristine Domaracki ’96 hasbeen admitted as an audit part-ner with Wolf & Company LLPof Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Shejoined the firm in 1997 and hasbeen working with banking,healthcare, manufacturing. andESOP companies for more than15 years. Domaracki is a mem-ber of the American Institute ofCertified Public Accountantsand the Illinois CPA Society.

Robert Bonjean III JD ’97,an assistant state’s attorneysince 2004, has been namedMorgan County (Ill.) state’sattorney by the county com-missioners. “I’m thankful to thecounty commissioners for theconfidence they’ve shown inme and grateful to the commu-

Southern Alumni 45

Class Notes

nity and those who havereached out to me and evencontacted the commissionerson my behalf,” Bonjean says.

Matthew Jockers ’97 Ph.D.was quoted in the New YorkTimes as citing that in the nine-teenth century Jane Austen,author of Pride and Prejudice,and Sir Walter Scott, the creatorof Ivanhoe, had the greatesteffect on other authors, interms of writing style andthemes. These two were “the lit-erary equivalent of Homo erec-tus, or, if you prefer, Adam andEve,” Jockers wrote in researchpublished last year. He basedhis conclusion on an analysis of3,592 works published from1780 to 1900.

Christian Kennerly ’97assumed command of DCompany 4-2 Attack Battalionat the U.S. Army garrison inSouth Korea in April. He is agraduate of Springfield HighSchool. His wife, Lindsay Harris,and two daughters live withhim in South Korea. He is theson of Jay Kennerly ’62.

Laurel Tinsley ’97 is usingher background in law, tax, andreal estate to help revitalizesome of the more neglected

neighbor-hoods inSt. Louis.She isdirector ofMBSUrbanInitiativeCDE, LLC’sNewMarkets

Tax Credit program, a seniorvice president of finance withMcCormack Baron Salazar, anda vice president with SunwheelEnergy Partners.

Phil Kubow ’98 has joinedProHealth Care as chief human

resources offi-cer. He isresponsiblefor attracting,retaining, andmotivatingemployeesand guiding

organizational change. Hiscareer spans more than 25years in the healthcare industry.

Jennifer Nowacki ’98 is amember of the inaugural classof Chicago Economic GrowthFellows on loan from area com-panies to support implementa-tion of the city’s Plan forEconomic Growth and Jobs.This month, Fellows begantheir full-time, three-to-six-month commitment workingwith World Business Chicago.

Ryan Sponsler AAS ’98recently became graphicdesigner for HansonProfessional Services Inc. inSpringfield, Ill. Joining Hansonin 2009, he designs print mate-rials for the company, includingadvertisements, the employeenewsletter, proposals, presenta-tions, and award entries.

Begun in November 2012Code 3 Spices is a businessventure of Chris Bohnemeier’99 that gives back to charitiesthat support first-respondersand the military. Bohnemeierand his business partner pro-duce a line of barbecue blendsand rubs, which has donatedmore than $5,000. “They’re all-purpose blends, except for thesteak (rub). They each havetheir own individual flavor pro-file,” Bohnemeier says.

2000sNora Coffey ’00 a veteran

park ranger, has been namedsuperintendent of Lake JamesState Park in Burke andMcDowell counties, accordingto the North Carolina Divisionof Parks and Recreation. Coffeyhas been a ranger at LakeJames State Park since 2007. Anative of Chicago, Ill., sheworked as an environmentaleducator at the John G. SheddAquarium in Chicago andAquatic Research InteractiveInc. and as a seasonal natural-ist at Hawai’i VolcanoesNational Park.

The latest book fromJoseph Spencer ’00, a paranor-

mal crime thriller, is Grim.Before Spencer began spinninghis own tales, he pursued acareer in sports journalism. Hecovered a variety of events,including NASCAR’s Subway500 race in Martinsville, theNBA Draft Camp in Chicago, theJunior College World Series,and Minor League Baseball’sMidwest League All-Star Gameduring a 10-year careerthroughout the Midwest.

Heather Kesterson ’01 hasbeen appointed to the positionof assistant dean in the Center

for Science,Technology,Engineering,andMathematicsat MohawkValleyCommunityCollege in

New York. Her experienceincludes working as theCoordinator of MilitaryEducation, the Director ofAdmissions and MilitaryPartnerships and the AssistantDirector of MilitaryPartnerships for SouthwesternCollege in Winfield, Kan.

Joe Bartletti ’01 of ruralBuckhart, Ill., has joined PrairieEngineers of Illinois as an envi-ronmental scientist. Bartletti hasbeen active in the field of profes-sional consulting for more thaneight years and possesses expe-rience with a wide diversity ofenvironmental service projects.

At Fire Creek in LanderCounty, Nevada, Shuai ChenM.S. ’02, Ph.D. ’06 has joinedKlondex as chief engineer.Chen will oversee the design ofthe Fire Creek undergroundmining project. He has 17 yearsof experience designing min-ing projects, specializing inunderground mine design,planning, ground control, andcost control.

Serving the upper Midwest,Byron Hendrix ’02 M.S. is anew regional field specialist forthe Enlist Weed Control Systemfor Dow AgroSciences. Hebrings strong experience in

Southern Alumni46

weed science and agronomicsto his new role. He most recent-ly served as Mycogen Seedscustomer agronomist and hasexperience in agriculture retail.

Jennifer Daulby ’02 J.D.has been appointed congres-sional chief of staff for Illinois13th District RepublicanRodney Davis. Daulby, a DuQuoin native, will work inDavis’ Washington office. Shealso served as counsel toCongressman Steve Chabot,handling issues before theHouse JudiciarySubcommittee on theConstitution, was legal coun-sel to the U.S. House ofRepresentatives Committeeon Agriculture, and a legisla-tive assistant to CongressmanJohn Shimkus.

Allstate Insurance hasopened a new office in Flora, Ill.,

with agencyowner RyanPottorff ’03.Pottorffgrew up inFlora andattendedschool there.He graduat-

ed from Flora High School in1997. He worked in communitybanking for 10 years and soldbenefits with American Fidelity.

Gregory Odom ’05, J.D. ’08has joined HeplerBroom LLC inthe Edwardsville office as anassociate attorney with anemphasis in toxic tort defense.While in law school, he was aMoot Court Board Member,president/founder of theAlternate Dispute ResolutionStudent Society, Order ofBarristers, Dean’s and AugustFowler Scholarship recipient.

Kelly Gerlach ’06 M.P.A.D.’10 has been named Navy’s

assistantwomen’s golfcoach. ASparta, Ill.,native, sheserved as atwo-timecaptain ofthe SIU

Southern Alumni 47

Class Notes

women’s golf team, leading theSalukis to the 2007 MissouriValley Conference title and aberth in the NCAAChampionships. As a freshmanin 2004, Gerlach won theMissouri Valley Conference indi-vidual title and earned All-MVChonors all four seasons of com-petition. She was a two-timeAcademic All-American (2007and 2008) and was a three-timemember of the Missouri ValleyConference All-Scholar Team.She was also named to theMissouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Team, which hon-ored the top 20 golfers in con-ference history.

Kelly Baerwaldt M.S. ’06, afish biologist and eDNA pro-gram manager with the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers St.Paul District, has been namedthe 2013 Junior Scientist of theyear by the Quad-CityEngineering and ScienceCouncil. The Eldridge, Iowa, res-ident also represents the Corpson the Asian Carp RegionalCoordinating Committee. Shehas exhibited dedication in theeffort to prevent Asian Carpfrom establishing in the GreatLakes.

A solo exhibition by ShelbyShadwell M.F.A. ’06, assistantprofessor in the University ofWyoming Department of Art,was on display in February, atthe Manifest Drawing Center inCincinnati, Ohio. His exhibitionof drawings, A Universal Picture,was one of six selected fromamong 150 proposals submit-ted for consideration forManifest’s ninth season.

Matthew Barba ’07 wasrecently named editor of theBolivar Herald-Free Press. He pre-

viouslyserved ascity andmanagingeditor of theMorningSentinel’sCentraliabureau in

Missouri. Both are dailies underthe same private ownership.

Barba had been with theSentinel organization since2007.

Bethany Benson M.F.A. ’07recently received the Henryand Joan Gibbel Award forDistinguished Teaching fromJuniata College in Huntingdon,Pa. Nominations for the awards

arereceivedfrom stu-dents,faculty,adminis-trativeperson-nel,alumniand

trustees. Benson has exhibitedher work, such as this tonguecup she crafted, at various gal-leries and museums around thecountry, and she has work inthe permanent collections ofthe University of Arkansas andthe Jingdezhen CeramicInstitute in Jingdezhen, China.

Lt. Stephen Graff ’07 hasbeen “proudly recruiting forAmerica’s Navy” since 2004.Apparently, he is doing it well.The 29-year-old Napervillenative recently was recognized

as a topU.S. NavyRecruiterof the Yearfor thesecondconsecu-tive year.

The award recognizes themost accomplished and suc-cessful recruiters across thecountry. “I enjoy meeting peo-ple and identifying ways tohelp them achieve their futuregoals with the military,” Graffsays.

Randy Smith M.S. ’07, awaterfowl scientist with theIllinois Natural History Survey,has joined the IllinoisDepartment of NaturalResources as wetland programmanager. That makes Smith thestate’s top waterfowl scientist.Smith worked at the INHS ForbesBiological Station near Havana

since 2007. At SIU, he studiedwaterfowl habitat rehabilitationand spring migration ecology.

The artwork of Robin M.F.A.’08 and Julia Rogers B.F.A. ’08was featured at this year’sHocking College GlassInvitational, hosted by theschool’s Art, Design, andMarketing program. After 10

years ofmovingfromstate tostate, thecouplebegancreatingartworkcollabo-

ratively. Robin is currently the co-owner of Nomadic Glass, andJulia is an instructor at TidewaterCommunity College, where sheteaches Beginning Glassblowing.

Jason Hite ’09 has joinedthe Durham, N.C., architecturefirm MHAworks as a projectdesigner. His previous experi-ence in healthcare architectureprovided a solid foundation forthe diversity of work he encoun-ters at his current position.

Drew Thomas M.S. ’09attended the first round of theNCAA Tournament as coordina-tor of special projects and tech-nologies for women’s basket-ball at the University of Miami.In the off-season, Thomas willbe handling the details of thenumerous camps at the collegeand be working on budgetitems and putting togetherrecruiting packages.

2010sScott Dickson ’10 was hon-

ored as Kitsap County(Washington) Sheriff’s OfficeDeputy of the Year for 2012.The 11-year patrol division vet-eran joined the KCSO inAugust2001, after serving twoyears with the University ofWashington PoliceDepartment. Originally fromupstate New York, Dickson is aNavy veteran and served morethan eight years in the subma-

rine service as a weapons sys-tems fire control technician.

Jaycen Herndon ’12recently joined the St. Louisoffice of Hanson ProfessionalServices Inc., serving the firm’saviation market. He will providedesign support and construc-tion observation assistance forconsulting projects in Missouriand southwestern Illinois.

Michael Krohn ’12 hasbeen accepted into the PeaceCorps and departed forZambia in February to begin

training asan agricul-ture and sus-tainabilityvolunteer.Krohn willmake a dif-ference byhelping local

farmers and agriculture spe-cialists develop more sustain-able programs to feed thecommunity while minimizingnegative environmentalimpact. He says, “I have beeninterested in the Peace Corpsever since high school, and as Icontinued through college, itbecame more of a realisticoption post-graduation.”

James Weyand ’12 J.D.took the oath of admission tothe Missouri Bar and was grant-ed his license to practice law inApril. Weyand was sworn in bythe Supreme Court of Missouriin Jefferson City. He will prac-tice law at Curl, Hark & HollidayLLC in Hannibal.

Eric Sia ’13, an IndustrialDesign major at SIU, has placed

first inthe“PopularVote atMarket”compe-titionrecently

held in Las Vegas and featuringenvironmentally friendly prod-uct designs. Sia’s SavannaMagazine Rack was voted“most marketable and mostlikely to show a profit” by pro-fessionals attending the event.

Southern Alumni 47

PresidentParkinson’sDesk …

The desk used by DanielBaldwin Parkinson (1845-1923), a protégé of RobertAllyn, the University’s firstpresident, is still a part of theSIU legacy. When theAmerican Heritage Roomwas finished at the newly-built Morris Library in themid 1950s, Parkinson’s deskwas moved there from OldMain and resides in thatroom at the renovated facili-ty. The provenance and dou-ble-sided design of his wal-nut desk have contributed toits preservation through theyears, though other itemsfrom his Old Main officehave not been as fortunate.

Parkinson came toCarbondale in 1874, wasnamed president of theUniversity in 1897, andretained that position untilhis retirement in 1913.According to Eli G. Lentz writ-ing in 1950 for Seventy-FiveYears in Retrospect,“Parkinson piloted Southernthrough sixteen difficultyears of transition. As one ofthe original faculty of eighthe was a ‘founding father.’” In1912, the Alumni Associationof Southern Illinois StateNormal University presentedthe University with the lifesize portrait of Parkinsonthat now hangs in the Hall ofPresidents and Chancellorsof Morris Library.

Being a first generation college student is not easy. “There are many things you must adjust to at a fast pace that may be overwhelming. The First Scholars Program here at SIU gave

me two things that I needed to get through college: (1) motivation to stay strong, and, (2) confidence that I can do this. Through

activities and workshops organized by the First Scholars Program, I acquired essential knowledge necessary to select the right

career path for myself. The First Scholars Program also provided me with resources and mentors to help me along the way. I am

proud I chose the college life. And I now love my home away from home!”

Jazmine is one example of how you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people who are beginning to tap into

their true potential. Through programs such as First Scholars, you are not only playing a part in their education, but you are also

enhancing their quality of life.

If you would like to make a difference in the life of a young student like Jazmine, please visit: https://www.siuf.org/priorities/ and

click on the “Campus Wide” option. You can select “First Scholars Fund” to make a gift. Or call (618) 453-4900.

“The First Scholars

Program at SIU provides

me with two things that

I need to get through

college: (1) motivation

to stay strong, and,

(2) confidence that I

can do this.”

Jazmine Garcia

Sophomore, Zoology

To make a gift, visit siuf.org/priorities or call 618.453.4900

Find us on Facebook.com/siufoundation.

CongratulationsGraduates!More than 3,600 candidates

for graduation enjoyed the fes-

tivities during May 11, 2013

graduation ceremonies. The

speaker at the events was

Frank Abagnale (lower right),

whose life story provided the

inspiration for the feature film

“Catch Me If You Can.” The in-

augural “Forever SIU: A Com-

mencement Celebration” was

held the night before to honor

the members of the Class of

2013 and their families.

Cover photos by Steve Buhman

Inside: Southern Exposure, Salukis Hiring Salukis, Class Notes, and more…Inside: Southern Exposure, Salukis Hiring Salukis, Class Notes, and more…

Dear Graduate,It is our pleasure to send this complimentary issue of South-

ern Alumni to all recent graduates of the University. Through

the pages of this magazine, we hope the stories will help keep

you connected to SIU Carbondale.

As an SIU alumnus, you play an important role in the contin-

ued growth and success of the University. Your SIU Alumni As-

sociation will keep you connected with your college friends

through alumni chapter and club activities, the newly re-

designed www.siualumni.com, and with our various publica-

tions.

If you are already a member of the SIU Alumni Association,

you can look forward to receiving four copies of Southern

Alumni each year, and enjoy access to other alumni who net-

work through our online community. If you are not yet a

member, check out the special recent grad rates that we offer.

Should you have any questions about membership, please

visit our website or call our office at 618-453-2408. Your sup-

port of our University’s future is crucial, and we will keep you

connected to Southern every step of the way as you start this

new path in your life.

Congratulations!


Executive Director

SIU Alumni Association

Your Connection To SIU Is Now New And Improved!

www.siualumni.com

Southern Alumni June 2013

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Transcript of Southern Alumni June 2013